Three-time MVP Kobe Bryant is joined by his wife and three daughters as the Los Angeles Lakers retire TWO of his jerseys following stellar 20-year career

The Los Angeles Lakers retired both of Kobe Bryant's jerseys - No 8 and No 24
The ceremony took place Monday at halftime as the Lakers took on the Golden State Warriors
Bryant sent his first 10 seasons with the Lakers wearing No 8 and his final 10 in No 24
He switched to No 24 in the 2006-07 season, the number he had in high school at Lower Merion
Ahead of the game, the Lakers hosted a Kobeland street festival outside the arena featuring a Kobe-inspired Ferris wheel and interactive games
Bryant led the Lakers to five championships during his 20-season career, three while wearing No 8 and two while wearing No 24
Celebratory night was soon dampened by the Lakers' 116-114 loss to the Warriors
Kevin Durant hit a tie-breaking 22-foot jumper with 7.3 seconds left in overtime for the Warriors' ninth consecutive victory

Published: 07:17 GMT, 19 December 2017 | Updated: 12:54 GMT, 19 December 2017

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Kobe Bryant was honored by the Los Angeles Lakers as they retired both his No 8 and No 24 jerseys on Monday night.

The ceremony took place at the Staples Center at halftime as the Lakers took on the Golden State Warriors.

In an NBA first, Los Angeles opted to retire both numbers because Bryant, who retired in 2016, spent his first 10 seasons wearing No 8 and his final 10 in No 24.

Bryant, 39, was joined by his wife Vanessa and their three daughters for the special ceremony.

Kobe Bryant was honored by the Los Angeles Lakers as they retired both his No 8 and No 24 jerseys on Monday night (pictured, at halftime)

Bryant's wife Vanessa (second left) and their three daughters (Natalia, right; Gianna, left; and Bianka, held) for the ceremony

Bryant's wife and daughters seemed very proud to take part in the ceremony

Bryant broke out into a grin as he was met by his wife and daughters - reaching down to pick up little Bianka

Bryant's youngest daughter, Bianka, turned one year old this month

In an NBA first, Los Angeles opted to retire both numbers because Bryant, who retired in 2016, spent his first 10 seasons wearing No 8 and his final 10 in No 24

Ahead of the game, the Lakers hosted a Kobeland street festival outside the arena featuring a Kobe-inspired Ferris wheel, interactive games, a shootout game and a live DJ

Bryant led the Lakers to five championships during his 20-season career, three while wearing No 8 and two while wearing No 24 (Pictured, the Ferris wheel at Kobeland)

During his career, Bryant won two NBA Finals MVP awards and one regular-season MVP, and he is third on the all-time NBA points list (Pictured, fans enjoy games at Kobeland ahead of the ceremony)

The ceremony, which took place later, began with Kobe's short film, 'Dear Basketball', which played on the arena Jumbotron (Pictured, Lakers fans attend Kobeland prior to the Lakers-Warriors game on Monday)

Stealing a bit of her father's limelight was adorable baby Bianka, the couple's youngest child, who turned one year old this month.

Bryant and his girls coordinated for the event, wearing matching black outfits.

Beaming by his side was wife Vanessa, who has been married to Bryant since 2001.

Vanessa stayed with Bryant even after he admitted adultery with a 19-year-old hotel employee, who accused him of rape. The case never went to trial because the alleged victim refused to testify in court.

Vanessa did briefly file for divorce from Bryant in 2011, but by January 2013 they announced that they had called the split off.

Bryant arrived at the awards pushing baby Bianka's stroller

Baby Bianka sat calmly on dad's lap throughout the ceremony

The Bryant family coordinated for the event in matching black outfits

The family couldn't stop smiling throughout the night

Ahead of the game, the Lakers hosted a Kobeland street festival outside the arena featuring a Kobe-inspired Ferris wheel, interactive games, a shootout game and a live DJ.

The ceremony, which took place later, began with Kobe's short film, 'Dear Basketball', which played on the arena Jumbotron. Bryant was then introduced by fellow Lakers jersey retiree Magic Johnson.

The Lakers president briefly touched on politics at the end of his speech as he told Bryant he needs to use his platform to help unite this country.

'The thing, Kobe, is this, brother: We need you right now. When I look into this audience, there [are] all races of people [who] come together, cheered you on for 20 years. And this country needs to come together,' Johnson said.

'And you were able to bring us all together - the city and Los Angeles - for 20 years. So I want to thank you for that.'

Both players criticized President Donald Trump for his remarks after Stephen Curry announced that he would not attend the White House if the Warriors were invited following their 2016 NBA Finals win.

After the introductions, Bryant's jerseys were revealed, one on each side of former Lakers announcer Chick Hearn's in the rafters of Staples Center.

'Thank you so much for tonight. But it's not about my jerseys that are hanging up there for me,' Bryant told the crowd.

'It's about the jerseys that were hanging up there before. Without them, I couldn't be here today. They inspired me to play the game at a higher level.'

According to Baxter Holmes of ESPN, Bryant's first jersey number (left and right) came from the number he wore at Adidas ABCD Camp, 143, whose digits add up to eight, as well as the number he wore in Italy

He switched to No 24 in the 2006-07 season, the number he had in high school at Lower Merion (Pictured, Bryant in February 2012)

Bryant posed with his wife (second from left) and three daughters at halftime after both his No 8 and No 24 Los Angeles Lakers jerseys are retired at Staples Center on Monday

Bryant led the Lakers to five championships during his 20-season career, three while wearing No 8 and two while wearing No 24. He's also the franchise leader in several categories, including points (33,643), games played (1,346), three-pointers made (1,827) and steals (1,944).

During his career, Bryant won two NBA Finals MVP awards and one regular-season MVP, and he is No 3 on the all-time NBA points list behind Karl Malone who played for the Utah Jazz and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who also has his jersey retired by the Lakers.

According to Baxter Holmes of ESPN, Bryant's first jersey number came from the number he wore at Adidas ABCD Camp, 143, whose digits add up to eight, as well as the number he wore in Italy.

He switched to No 24 in the 2006-07 season, the number he had in high school at Lower Merion.

The Lakers star told the network that there was a different mentality in wearing the two numbers.

Bryant was introduced by fellow Lakers jersey retiree Magic Johnson (pictured, left, with Bryant), who touched on politics at the end of his speech as he told Bryant he needs to use his platform to help unite this country

Following the introductions, Bryant's jerseys were revealed, one on each side of former Lakers announcer Chick Hearn's in the rafters of Staples Center (pictured)

The Lakers star said that there was a different mentality in wearing the two numbers, with No 8 being the era in which he had to prove himself and No 24 an era of maturity (Pictured, Bryant, left, and Shaquille O'Neal shake hands at halftime)

'When I first came in at eight, is really trying to 'plant your flag' sort of thing,' Bryant said. 'I got to prove that I belong here in this league. I've got to prove that I'm one of the best in this league.

'Then 24 is a growth from that. Physical attributes aren't there the way they used to be, but the maturity level is greater. Marriage, kids. Start having a broader perspective being one of the older guys on the team now, as opposed to being the youngest.'

Despite the celebratory night for Laker fans, it was soon dampened in their heartbreaking 116-114 loss to the Warriors.

Kevin Durant scored 36 points and hit a tie-breaking 22-foot jumper with 7.3 seconds left in overtime for the Warriors' ninth consecutive victory.