Nine seasons in Cleveland came to an end for Myles Garrett when the Browns dealt him to the Los Angeles Rams in a blockbuster June trade. And upon arriving in the City of Angels, the former Defensive Player of the Year wasted no time making an impact.

Six days after arriving in the city, the former No. 1 overall pick in 2017 was invited by the Los Angeles Dodgers to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Saturday. Garrett stunned the 50,000 crowd in attendance by sporting a Kobe Bryant shirt paired with a Dodgers cap.

“Shoot, I’ve had love for Kobe since I was a kid,” Garrett said on SportsNet LA. “I remember playing NBA Jam back in the day and playing with the Lakers because I was such a big Kobe fan. I used to wear the short 'fro just like Kob,’ and that love has been there ever since."

Garrett’s father hails from Los Angeles, and he grew up as a devoted Lakers fan himself, making the tribute even more meaningful. That said, his appreciation for the city’s sporting heritage extends beyond basketball.

During his introductory press conference, Garrett referenced the Rams, such as Deacon Jones and the famed Fearsome Foursome.

“I definitely recall watching film of the Fearsome Foursome, Deacon Jones. I actually grew up watching that in high school,” said Myles Garrett, as per Sami Haider of Gridirion Heroics.

His recent escapades caught the attention of fans, who are divided on his latest gesture at Dodger Stadium.

Fans Clash Over Myles Garrett’s Dodgers Moment

One of the fans took to X to write, “He has to be so happy he isn’t in Cleveland anymore.”

Another fan expressed that Myles understood the assignment upon arriving in the city and integrated with the Los Angeles vibe as soon as he arrived in LA.

“Myles Garrett throwing out the first pitch at Dodgers Stadium in a Kobe shirt on his first weekend as a Ram is the most Los Angeles introduction a new signing has ever given the city. He understood the assignment before anyone had to explain what it meant,” wrote a fan.

While his introduction to the city was phenomenal, one fan remains skeptical about his performance this season.

“Wearing a Kobe shirt at a Dodgers game is a safe LA crowd pleaser move, cool moment, but let's see if Garrett actually performs on the field before the city fully adopts him,” added another.

"Star athletes referencing other star athletes through wardrobe is its own quiet form of acknowledgement. The Kobe shirt at first pitch tells you who shaped his idea of what an LA pro looks like, which usually predicts how he treats the next phase," another fan commented.

Although Garrett racked up an NFL single-season sack record with 23 sacks in 2025, he still has to prove his worth with the Rams after they surrendered edge rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick to the Browns in exchange for him.

“Imagine Kobe watching from above thinking, 'nice pitch, kid,'" a fan added.

As he joins the Rams this year, do you think he'll perform better? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore