On Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia’s First Union Center, the boos rained down from the rafters when the fans heard Kobe Bryant’s name. The Lakers were in town to play the Sixers, and this is supposed to be Kobe's home. Philadelphia. Still they booed.

They booed when he touched the ball, when he dunked, and when he shot free throws. They did the same thing during the Finals, too. Then, it hurt him.

But not this time.

Not this time -- because of what happened the day before.

On Saturday, about 30 minutes away in Ardmore, Pa., Lower Merion High School retired Kobe's No. 33 jersey in a ceremony just for him. The last time he stood on this stage was six years ago, when he announced he was taking it straight to the League. His classmates roared when the then-17-year-old senior whipped off his designer shades and said "I have decided to forgo my eligibility and take my talents directly to the NBA."

Six years later, they cheered the same way when he simply walked into the gym. Some reached out and touched his arm.

His pop, Jellybean, was there. So was his mom, wife Vanessa, and 1,500 friends and former classmates. They watched videos of Kobe flushing on kids who are now only a year out of college. He racked up big numbers and flashed an even bigger smile. Teammates told stories about how Kobe never passed them the ball. And Kobe smiled through it all.

The whole ceremony was just great, but he was smiling because of who was sitting in the third row. Shaquille O’Neal, Rick Fox, Brian Shaw, Mark Madsen, Samaki Walker and Devean George. They made Kobe’s night theirs. And he was glad to share it with them.

"They jumped in a van and followed me here," said Kobe. "It surprised me. They were really into it."

They hooted and hollered at all the right moments. Shaq even took pictures. Afterward, the big fella led the players to the stage and swallowed the man of the hour with hugs. And he hugged back.

And not once did Kobe Bryant stop smiling.

Chris Palmer covers The NBA Life for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at christopher.palmer@espnmag.com.