Kobe Bryant surprises Taylor Swift on stage in LA

The Friday night concert was the first of her sold-out “1989” tour shows at the Staples Center, but it was her 12th at the venue overall.

To mark her 16th sold-out show at the arena, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant joined Swift on-stage to present her with her very own championship banner. Click through the gallery to check out the best pics from the concert.

This prompted Gawker to recently publish an article titled “Taylor Swift is Not Your Friend” in which Dayna Evans writes, “When Taylor Swift does the mega-pop stardom act, she does it to the tilt”.

“Sixteen is a very special number here in Los Angeles because 16 is the same amount of championships that we have as a Lakers franchise”, Bryant told the audience, according to Entertainment Tonight.

That’s right – most sold out shows in Staples Center history!!

On Friday, that was Ryan Tedder, the 36-year-old OneRepublic frontman and Taylor’s collaborator on the songs, Welcome To New York and I Know Places. “Shakin it out with @taylorswift13”, Ferguson uploaded a selfie with the singer.

Ch-ch-check out the banner surprise via Tay-Tay’s Facebook page (below)!! “You did that. Love you”.

Prior to kicking off her run of Los Angeles shows, Swift shared a throwback photo from one of her earliest gigs to marvel at how far she has come in her career.

Video clips of the momentous occasion were posted on the Staples Center’s Instagram account.

It makes you wonder if this banner will hang permanently, or till the record is broken, or if it will meet the same fate as the banner the WWE raised for Hulk Hogan in Madison Square Garden.