David Ortiz tells Kobe Bryant to hit him up next year when they’re both retired

Boston Red Sox's David Ortiz celebrates his two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Boston, Tuesday, April 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) — Boston Red Sox's David Ortiz celebrates his two-run home run during the first inning of Tuesday's game. –Michael Dwyer / AP

By

Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com Staff

April 13, 2016

As David Ortiz says, #realrecognizereal.

Even if Boston sports fans might not like it, the outgoing Red Sox slugger tweeted his congratulations to fellow outgoing superstar Kobe Bryant hours before the Los Angeles Lakers guard’s last game Wednesday night.

congrats on ur amazing career @kobebryant !! hmu next year when we both hav 2 much free time LOL! #MambaDay #realrecognizereal

— David Ortiz (@davidortiz) April 13, 2016

“[Hit me up] next year when we both [have too] much free time LOL!” added Ortiz, who was far from the only high-profile athlete to commemorate #MambaDay, the online Kobe-appreciation campaign Wednesday initiated by Nike.

In tribute of Bryant’s final NBA game after 20 seasons in the league, more than 200 Nike-sponsored athletes are wearing black-and-gold Nike shoes.

Former Red Sox player Adrian Gonzalez also commemorated the day with a happy memory.

Fortunate to be there in person, 2010 Game 7 @NBA Finals. Happy #MambaDay pic.twitter.com/HNlV4U450u

— Adrian Gonzalez (@Adrian_ElTitan) April 13, 2016

Happy #MambaDay, Celtics fans.

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