Julius Erving loves Kobe Bryant and, surprisingly, played with the Mamba's dad ... be that as it may,

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he tells TMZ Sports the NBA shouldn't resign the Lakers legend's numbers association wide as it did with Bill Russell recently.

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Most accept that following Adam Silver's choice to respect Russell by for all time hanging up his #6 following the Celtics legend's demise 

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he ought to do likewise for Kobe, who unfortunately died in 2020.

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However, Dr. J - - who called Russell an old buddy of his - - obviously feels in an unexpected way.

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"I don't figure he ought to be contrasted and the Russell circumstance," Erving said of Kobe out at LAX. 

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"We're new into that yet we should perceive how that turns out. Perhaps sooner or later in time. Bill was 86 years of age, so address it like that to a 86-year-old

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various heroes, different instructing champions, numerous on-and-off the court champion, or whatever - - there's no examination."

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