Kobe's legacy in the NBA lives on in a new way. An Atlanta Hawks rookie bears his name

Kobe Bufkin hugs family and friends after being selected 15th overall by the Atlanta Hawks during the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

There’s Kobe, wearing the uniform of a team from Los Angeles. There’s Kobe, the last one on the court at practice and getting yelled at because the buses are waiting for him.

How fitting. Just like old times.

There will never be another Kobe Bryant, of course. And make no mistake — Kobe Brown and Kobe Bufkin would be the first two players at NBA Summer League to insist that there will never be another Bryant. They would never pretend otherwise. But for the first time since the Hall of Famer retired in 2016, the NBA is about to have fans watching guys named Kobe again.