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Home / Sport / Basketball

LA Lakers super fan's outrageous Kobe Bryant transformation

By Tyson Otto on news.com.au
news.com.au·
19 Dec, 2017 08:30 PM3 mins to read

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Lakers fan Chris Huerta. Photo / Twitter @@Huertaweightgo

Lakers fan Chris Huerta. Photo / Twitter @@Huertaweightgo

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Kobe Bryant helped inspire some truly astonishing feats in his 21-year career, but none are anything like Chris Huerta.

The Lakers super fan was down on himself, had stopped exercising and was more than 170-pounds (77kg) heavier than he is today.

Then the phenomenon known as Mamba came along and dropped 60-points in his final career game against the Utah Jazz in April, last year — a season high points-haul across the league which also gave the 39-year-old a record as the oldest player to ever score 60 points in a game.

It was a fairytale moment that has given life to another one in Huerta's case.

In the build-up to the retirement ceremony to immortalise Bryant's No. 8 and No. 24 Lakers singlets this week, fans across the world have been sharing their own tributes to the 18-time NBA All-Star.

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There have been videos, banners, promises and tattoos.

None of them come close to a few tweets Huerta shared on Tuesday (AEDT).

He wrote on his public account that seeing Kobe's dramatic farewell inspired him to change his life and drop 170 pounds (77kg).

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"Down 170 lbs since @kobebryant 's last game. Took it one day at time with that #MambaMentality," Huerta tweeted.

Down 170 lbs since @kobebryant 's last game. Took it one day at time with that #MambaMentality. Happy #Ko8be24 !! #KobeWeek #KobeBryant #Ko8e24ِ #LakeShow  @Lakers @JeanieBuss @geeter3 @LAIreland @ @ramonashelburne @LakersReporter #bestever pic.twitter.com/FeW0245MjC

— PØW (@PowChrisol) December 18, 2017

That means he's dropped 77kg in the space of 80 weeks — and he's not done yet.

Huerta posted last week that he is still aiming to shed another 4.5kg — which would take his total weight loss to more than 180 pounds.

He tweeted that his strategy was as simple as it was successful — with the help of Mamba mentality, of course.

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"Cut out dairy, sugar and carbs and started to exercise everyday," he wrote on Twitter.

I've never been committed to anything. I always quit because I always told myself "I can't do this."

So,here we are 80 weeks later. Looking forward to the new year to set some new goals.

Ive lost 170 pounds thus far, I'm really going to try to make that 180 mark. pic.twitter.com/cz6v5YGKLe

— PØW (@PowChrisol) December 11, 2017

His feat has given him 15 minutes of fame across the United States.

The Los Angeles-based fan's achievement featured in several online news sites and even got a shout-out from Lakers owner and president Jeanie Buss.

Chris! You are an inspiration just as Kobe was an inspiration to you. You gave me chills! Thanks for sharing your journey. #Mamba #Lakers #inspirational https://t.co/pscnD4ZB18

— Jeanie Buss (@JeanieBuss) December 18, 2017
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