It wasn't an ordinary NBA game on Friday night (January 31) at the Staples Center when the Los Angeles Lakers met the Portland Trail Blazers. It was the club's first game after the tragic helicopter crash on Sunday (January 26) that cost Lakers legend Kobe Bryant (1978-2020), his 13-year-old daughter Gianna "Gigi" and seven others. The game and defeat of the Lakers became a minor matter. Kobe and Gigi were emotionally paid tribute – which widow Vanessa Bryant (37) also took note of.
"Our angels"
The seats in the Staples Center were all lined with kits from Kobe Bryant, who wore numbers 8 and 24 in the club, before the game. Roses lay on two chairs on the edge of the field where the basketball icon and his daughter once sat. The special thing about it: In addition to Bryant's yellow jersey with the number 24, the second chair wore a black jersey with the number 2. Gigi Bryant was an aspiring basketball talent. She wanted to follow in her famous father's footsteps.
Widow Vanessa Bryant posted a photo of the two chairs on her official Instagram page. "There is no number 24 without number 2," she wrote. As hashtags she used "My Babies" and "Our Angels".
Forever in the hearts of the Lakers family
There was an emotional ceremony before the kick-off. Singer Usher (41) stood in the middle of the darkened arena in front of two yellow rose arrangements of numbers 8 and 24 and sang the song "Amazing Grace". Afterwards, a video about the life and career of Kobe Bryant was shown, in which the NBA legend also spoke several times. He raved about his wife Vanessa and their four daughters, whom he wants to give along the way that they can be "strong and independent". In addition, cellist Ben Hong from the Los Angeles Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra performed.
The American national anthem was sung by Boyz II Men. The band hails from Philadelphia, the hometown of Kobe Bryant. Then Lakers star LeBron James (35), visibly moved, spoke. He first read all the names of the nine victims. He tossed the piece of paper with his prescribed speech aside. For him, the Lakers are a family. And the best thing to do in times of tragedy is to "lean on the shoulders of your family".
There will be another funeral service, says James, so he regards the evening as "a festival". "Tonight we're celebrating the child who came here at 18, retired at 38 and was probably the best father we've seen in the past three years," said James. "Kobe is like a brother to me," he said. He wanted to continue Bryant's legacy and promised that the deceased would never be forgotten.
LeBron James also has a very personal memory of Kobe Bryant on his body. On Instagram, he showed the tattoo he got in his honor. It is a black mamba. "Black Mamba" was what Bryant had called himself. In addition, the numbers 8 and 24 can be seen as well as two roses and the lettering: "Mamba 4 Life".