Basketball may not be the number one sport in South Africa, but it sure has its own dedicated community of fans and talented players.

A few hours ago, LA Lakers shooting guard, Kobe Bryant, who boasts a 20-year career in the NBA, was given a royal send-off as he played his last game at the renowned Staples Centre in Los Angeles.

The game was a star-studded affair with celebrities like Jay-Z, Kanye West, and The Weeknd attending the game.

The appreciation for Kobe, who also goes by the nickname Black Mamba - hence the hashtag #MambaDay, was also felt here at home

Local stars showered praise on one of the greatest basketball players of our generation.

DJ Dimplez wears his Kobe Bryant T-shirt

 

My Kobe tribute. Respect 🙌🏿

A photo posted by djdimplez (@djdimplez) on Apr 13, 2016 at 8:29pm PDT

Hip Hop DJ Dimplez sported his fresh Kobe Bryant t-shirt, to show how much of a great fan he is of the sport in general, DImplez even stayed up all night to watch the game live.

Maps Maponyane was also in the mix

 

OT - The end of an era: Ready for the big game with my Lakers snapback. Thank you Kobe 🏀 #MambaDay #Legend #Goat #Kobe #Basketball #Lakers

A photo posted by Maps Maponyane (@mmaponyane) on Apr 13, 2016 at 2:28pm PDT

We didn't know that Maps Maponyane was a basketball fan, but by the looks of his LA Lakers cap, he also enjoyed Kobe Bryant's last game.

Trevor Noah was there too

Probably the only South African celebrity who had the best #MambaDay experience was Trevor Noah. Sitting amongst America's greatest. Trevor witnessed a first class experience of one basketball game that will probably be recorded in the history books.

And Kobe gives the crowd tacos! What a time to be alive.#KobeBryant #MambaDay #Legend

— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) April 14, 2016

Kobe is magic. This is so special.
Even Kanye is smiling. Wow wow wow#KobeBryant #MambaDay

— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) April 14, 2016

Cassper also had a say: 

Kobe Bryant.. WOW! 🙌🏾 #MambaOut

— New Album in stores (@CassperNyovest) April 14, 2016

We're yet to see avid basketball fans Siyabonga Ngwekazi and Sizwe Dhlomo post or tweet about Kobe's last game, which looked like an eventful night for all basketball fans across the world.

On the topic of basketball, watch how our local celebrities played at the BET Experience Africa NBA celebrity basketball game below.

The video features the likes of Riky Rick, Slikour, Sarah Langa, Tbo Touch, Fikile Mbalula, and more.

Image Credit: Instagram