Kobe Bryant, Earl Monroe share an NBA moment

PHILADELPHIA -- When Kobe Bryant walked into the locker room after the Lakers' 114-102 win over the 76ers on Wednesday night and saw NBA Hall of Famer and Philadelphia legend Earl Monroe, he stopped and hugged him.

Bryant wanted to pay homage to Monroe, who wanted to do the same for Bryant.

It was a mutual admiration society.

"You done taken the game to another level,'' Monroe said.

"I refer to him as the human video game because the numbers that he put up were just astronomical,'' Bryant said.

Monroe was a teammate of Lakers Coach Phil Jackson with the New York Knicks. Bryant, who played at Lower Merion High, about 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia, knew all about Monroe growing up.

"This is the only guy I want to take a picture with in life,'' Monroe said.

"I got to have mine (picture), too,'' Bryant said.

Then they embraced and posed for the picture.

-- Broderick Turner

Photo: Kobe Bryant goes in reverse to the basket during the second half of Wednesday night's game against the 76ers in Philadelphia. Credit: Tom Mihalek / Associated Press