Kobe Bryant’s impact on the Los Angeles community is beyond what words can fully capture. Recently, Myles Garrett was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in a blockbuster deal with the Cleveland Browns, and he’s trying to create his own legacy in LA.
On Saturday, Garrett paid tribute to Bryant while throwing out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium.
Myles Garrett Winning Over Los Angeles Fans With Kobe Bryant Tribute
Garrett made a huge impression on his new Los Angeles fans, as he took the field at Dodger Stadium while wearing a vintage Bryant graphic T-shirt paired with a Dodgers cap.
Given Bryant’s lasting legacy in Los Angeles, Garrett’s tribute triggered a wave of positive reactions.
“Love the dude so much. Out there, talking about mamba mentality. No wonder he set the all-time sack record,” one user said.
Love the dude so much
Out there, talking about mamba mentality.
No wonder he set the all time sack record.
— TKainZero (@TKainZero) June 7, 2026
In one of Bryant’s most widely shared interviews before his passing, he explained how the Mamba Mentality was built through daily discipline, relentless training, and constant mental focus. He was known for early-morning workouts and an intense commitment to improving every detail of his game.
Garrett has previously spoken about Bryant’s influence on his mindset. In an interview with Boardroom in October 2024, he explained how studying elite competitors like Bryant and Michael Jordan helped him develop a stronger “killer instinct.”
“You have Kobe, you have MJ who have killer instinct it like exudes from them,” Garrett said. “They want to kill you they want to take you out the game.”
“Myles Garrett is going to fit in just fine in L.A,” The Sporting Tribune founder Arash Markazi wrote.
Myles Garrett is going to fit in just fine in L.A. pic.twitter.com/x5DoJtWKVf
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) June 7, 2026
“New Rams superstar Myles Garrett throws out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium rocking a Kobe Bryant graphic tee and a Dodgers hat. Not a better way to welcome yourself to the city of Los Angeles,” Dodgers Nation wrote.
“Myles Garrett was repping Kobe when he threw the first pitch at the Dodgers game today 🔥,” LakersMuse posted.
Myles Garrett was repping Kobe when he threw the first pitch at the Dodgers game today 🔥
(H/t @DodgerBlue1958) pic.twitter.com/f9178iPepY
— LakersMuse (@LALMuse) June 7, 2026
“Wearing a Kobe Bryant T-shirt!!!! Myles Garrett gets L.A,” local journalist Jeff Tully wrote, retweeting a post of Garrett being snapped with some fans.
“🫡🫡🫡,” Lakers Nation posted on X.
The late Bryant remains a fan favorite and legend in Los Angeles, having led the Lakers to five NBA championships during his storied NBA career.
Garrett’s ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium also evoked memories of Bryant’s own appearance on the mound. After winning his first NBA title with the Lakers, Bryant threw the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium on June 27, 2000. He was dressed in a clean white Dodgers jersey and energized the crowd with his appearance.
Bryant’s ties to the Dodgers extended beyond that moment, as when Ohtani was considering a move to MLB in 2017, the Dodgers made an aggressive push to sign him and even enlisted Bryant to record a personalized video encouraging him to choose Los Angeles. Ohtani ultimately signed with the Angels at that time, but he agreed to his record-setting contract with the Dodgers in 2023. The organization revisited Bryant’s original video and played it for him during the final stages of their recruitment process.
Now, Garrett is hoping to put up monster numbers in the Rams’ defense after a dominant season in which he set the NFL’s all-time single-season sack record with 23. He earned a 95.6 PFSN EDGE Impact score last season, ranking No. 1 overall.
