PHOTO: Kobe signs his shoes for 'brother' Caron Butler
Steve Grayson / WireImage / Getty
Kobe Bryant and Caron Butler were only teammates for one season, but they have remained close friends for years.
After the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, the Lakers veteran signed a pair of his shoes for Butler, whom he referred to in an interview as his brother.
"He was like my little brother," said Bryant of his 2004-05 campaign teammate, according to Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News.
"Now he's the big brother over there. It's been great to see his development. It's great to see his growth. I'm very, very proud of him."