Taylor Swift welcomes Kobe Bryant to the stage during the opening night of her five concerts at Staples Center.

Taylor Swift welcomes Kobe Bryant to the stage during the opening night of her five concerts at Staples Center.

(Christopher Polk / Getty Images for TAS)

Kobe Bryant might not have returned to the basketball court with the Lakers, but he was back in the spotlight at Staples Center on Friday night with Taylor Swift to help the superstar singer unveil her own banner.

Bryant was the second surprise guest at her concert Friday night, the first of five she’s staging at Staples Center during the 1989 World Tour.

Swift already had welcomed Ryan Tedder of One Republic to the stage. The two sang One Republic’s “Counting Stars.”

The Lakers’ perennial All-Star guard entered the stage down a long catwalk during Swift’s song “Style.” He then asked the band to bring it down a few levels and told the crowd to check out Swift’s banner.

Swift has sold out Staples Center a record 16 times, according to Bryant. That includes all five shows she’s playing there through Wednesday.

Bryant played in only 35 games last season before having season-ending shoulder surgery. He’s expected to make a full recovery before the start of the upcoming season.