Kobe Bryant confronts D’Angelo Russell over GOAT tweet, makes peace

For the second time this summer, a Lakers’ first-round draft pick got into hot water with Kobe Bryant on Twitter.

On Thursday, Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell, taken second in the 2015 NBA draft, tweeted, “Honestly Tracy McGrady might have been the GOAT!�

GOAT is an acronym for “greatest of all time.�

On Friday evening, Bryant needed nothing more than an emoji of a sleeping face to get Russell in line.

Six minutes later Russell backtracked, tweeting, “@kobebryant lol my bad he was nice though.�

Bryant responded with an encouraging message, “Ha! All luv lil bro [let’s] shock da world this season #history.�

Russell answered back with three “100� emojis.

McGrady was a seven-time All-Star, primarily with the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets. While Bryant has five championships on his resume, McGrady retired after the 2011-12 season without an NBA title.

Back on draft night in June, Larry Nance Jr. found himself quickly in hot water when a 2012 tweet surfaced calling Bryant a “rapist.�

Nance, taken with the 27th overall pick, apologized to Bryant and the Lakers. The two have since spoken and made peace on the topic.

Bryant is headed into his 20th and possibly final season, starting on Oct. 28 at Staples Center when the Lakers play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.