On July 1, 1996, the Charlotte Hornets officially traded Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac. Bryant spent the next two decades in the City of Angels. On Monday evening, his place in Lakers' lore was stamped on Staples Center as the franchise retired both his No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys. Bryant, never afraid to be candid on a microphone, gave an impassioned speech to LA crowd on his special night.