Caleb McLaughlin pays tribute to Kobe Bryant in new season of Stranger Things.Photo: Netflix; V.J. Lovero/Sports Illustrated via GettyStranger ThingsstarCaleb McLaughlinsubtly honored his real-life hero,Kobe Bryant, in the new season of the hit series.Netflix released the fourth season ofStranger Thingslast Friday, which means many fans have alreadyfinished its nine episodes. (But if not, don’t worry, no spoilers here!)This season, McLaughlin’s character, Lucas Sinclair, is a member of Hawkins High’s basketball team. Netflix confirmed in atweetMonday that McLaughlin chose No. 8 for his jersey number as a nod to the former Los Angeles Lakers player.“The #8 jersey Lucas wears is a nod to Kobe Bryant’s first jersey number,” Netflix said. “@calebmclaughlinis a huge fan and had the idea to pay tribute to Kobe through his character’s jersey.“Bryant famously wore No. 8 for the first 10 years of his career before changing it toNo. 24 at the start of the 2006-2007 season.In January 2020, Bryant was killed in atragic helicopter crashalongside his daughter,Gianna, and seven others.Outside ofStranger Things, McLaughlin has played basketball since childhood and even appeared in the 2018 All-Star Weekend Celebrity Game.In 2017, the Netflix star scored a photo with Bryant’s former Lakers teammate,Shaquille O’Neal.Stranger Thingswill return to Netflix for afifth and final season, series creators Matt and Ross Duffer announced in February.“Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc forStranger Things. At the time, we predicted the story would last four to five seasons,” they wrote in an open letter to fans.RELATED VIDEO: ‘I Want to Focus On Giving Back’: Shaquille O’Neal Discusses His New Humanitarian EffortNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“It proved too large to tell in four, but — as you’ll soon see for yourselves — we are now hurling toward our finale,” they added.Stranger Things 4is now streaming on Netflix.
Caleb McLaughlin pays tribute to Kobe Bryant in new season of Stranger Things.Photo: Netflix; V.J. Lovero/Sports Illustrated via Getty
Stranger ThingsstarCaleb McLaughlinsubtly honored his real-life hero,Kobe Bryant, in the new season of the hit series.Netflix released the fourth season ofStranger Thingslast Friday, which means many fans have alreadyfinished its nine episodes. (But if not, don’t worry, no spoilers here!)This season, McLaughlin’s character, Lucas Sinclair, is a member of Hawkins High’s basketball team. Netflix confirmed in atweetMonday that McLaughlin chose No. 8 for his jersey number as a nod to the former Los Angeles Lakers player.“The #8 jersey Lucas wears is a nod to Kobe Bryant’s first jersey number,” Netflix said. “@calebmclaughlinis a huge fan and had the idea to pay tribute to Kobe through his character’s jersey.“Bryant famously wore No. 8 for the first 10 years of his career before changing it toNo. 24 at the start of the 2006-2007 season.In January 2020, Bryant was killed in atragic helicopter crashalongside his daughter,Gianna, and seven others.Outside ofStranger Things, McLaughlin has played basketball since childhood and even appeared in the 2018 All-Star Weekend Celebrity Game.In 2017, the Netflix star scored a photo with Bryant’s former Lakers teammate,Shaquille O’Neal.Stranger Thingswill return to Netflix for afifth and final season, series creators Matt and Ross Duffer announced in February.“Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc forStranger Things. At the time, we predicted the story would last four to five seasons,” they wrote in an open letter to fans.RELATED VIDEO: ‘I Want to Focus On Giving Back’: Shaquille O’Neal Discusses His New Humanitarian EffortNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“It proved too large to tell in four, but — as you’ll soon see for yourselves — we are now hurling toward our finale,” they added.Stranger Things 4is now streaming on Netflix.
Stranger ThingsstarCaleb McLaughlinsubtly honored his real-life hero,Kobe Bryant, in the new season of the hit series.
Netflix released the fourth season ofStranger Thingslast Friday, which means many fans have alreadyfinished its nine episodes. (But if not, don’t worry, no spoilers here!)
This season, McLaughlin’s character, Lucas Sinclair, is a member of Hawkins High’s basketball team. Netflix confirmed in atweetMonday that McLaughlin chose No. 8 for his jersey number as a nod to the former Los Angeles Lakers player.
“The #8 jersey Lucas wears is a nod to Kobe Bryant’s first jersey number,” Netflix said. “@calebmclaughlinis a huge fan and had the idea to pay tribute to Kobe through his character’s jersey.”
Bryant famously wore No. 8 for the first 10 years of his career before changing it toNo. 24 at the start of the 2006-2007 season.
In January 2020, Bryant was killed in atragic helicopter crashalongside his daughter,Gianna, and seven others.
Outside ofStranger Things, McLaughlin has played basketball since childhood and even appeared in the 2018 All-Star Weekend Celebrity Game.
In 2017, the Netflix star scored a photo with Bryant’s former Lakers teammate,Shaquille O’Neal.
Stranger Thingswill return to Netflix for afifth and final season, series creators Matt and Ross Duffer announced in February.
“Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc forStranger Things. At the time, we predicted the story would last four to five seasons,” they wrote in an open letter to fans.
RELATED VIDEO: ‘I Want to Focus On Giving Back’: Shaquille O’Neal Discusses His New Humanitarian Effort
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“It proved too large to tell in four, but — as you’ll soon see for yourselves — we are now hurling toward our finale,” they added.
Stranger Things 4is now streaming on Netflix.
source: people.com
