Last night, thousands of people flocked to the Staples Center to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, following their tragic deaths last month.
Many famous faces made heartfelt tributes to the lives lost on board the doomed helicopter. Now, Nike have created a tribute of their own.
Keep scrolling to find out more…
After he left high school, he entered the NBA directly and went onto win 5 championships.
Kobe Bryant made history on many occasions. His twenty-year career in the NBA saw him become the all-time leading scorer in Lakers history in 2010. At thirty-four years old, he also became the youngest player in league history to reach 30,000 career points. What an achievement.
After a string of injuries began taking their toll on his body, he decided it would be best to leave the game, though that didn’t stop him from coaching and doing extra work on the side in order to aid the NBA.
Who could ever forget that final game? The Lakers versus Utah Jazz.
The latter team didn’t stand a chance after seeing Kobe score sixty points in the game, which became a career highlight for the basketballer.
Kobe Bryant was tragically killed in a helicopter crash on Jan 26. The NBA star’s private helicopter crashed in Calabasas at around 9:45 am local time, TMZ sports confirmed.
But tragically, his private helicopter went down and a “fire broke out,” TMZ reported.
TMZ Sports reported that Gianna, aged thirteen, tragically died alongside her dad in the crash. It is thought that the father and daughter were on their way to the Mamba Academy for basketball practice, nearby Thousand Oaks.
All 9 of the passengers on board were confirmed to have died in the tragic crash.
Kobe really touched the hearts of so many people, so tributes for the star have been pouring in.
Melania also sent her condolences.
He and LeBron James were two legends in the sport. And they helped build each other, celebrate their successes and support one another through difficult times.
He took to Instagram to pay tribute to the basketball legend, whom he describes as his “brother.”
“I’m Not Ready but here I go. Man I sitting here trying to write something for this post but every time I try I begin crying again just thinking about you, niece Gigi and the friendship/bond/brotherhood we had,” he began the post.
“Didn’t think for one bit in a million years that would be the last conversation we’d have. WTF!! I’m heartbroken and devastated my brother!!
“Man I love you big bro,” he continued.
“My heart goes to Vanessa and the kids. I promise you I’ll continue your legacy man! You mean so much to us all here especially #LakerNation and it’s my responsibility to put this shit on my back and keep it going!”
“Please give me the strength from the heavens above and watch over me! I got US here!”
With millions of people around the world watching the memorial at The Staples Center, gathering outside the venue, or via live streams.
“Kobe was my dear friend, he was like a little brother,” he said.
“Everyone always wanted to talk about the comparisons between he and I. I just wanted to talk about Kobe.”
“All of us have brothers and sisters, little brothers, little sisters who for whatever reason tend to get in your stuff. Your closet, your shoes. Everything. He was a nuisance if I could say that word,” Jordan said.
“But that nuisance turned into love over a period of time. Just because of the admiration that they have for you. The questions, wanting to know every little detail.”
“I am inspired by what he’s done and what he’s shared with Vanessa and his kids.
“When Kobe Bryant died a piece of me died.”
The manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, Rob Pelinka, took to the stage.
So, quite understandably, he was obliged to make a speech at the memorial service last night.
That Pelinka was actually in contact with Kobe the morning of his untimely death, and that Kobe had texted him while he was in the helicopter.
While Kobe was in the doomed helicopter, he had been texting Pelinka about basketball internships.
“It was just passed 9:30, Kobe texted back explaining his desire to help a friend of his to secure a baseball agency internship for one of his young daughters. Kobe vouched for the girl’s character, intellect and work ethic. He clearly wanted to champion a bright future for her.”
Pelinka replied right away with a set plan.
“I text Kobe right back and said that I would get a plan in motion to help him get that done.”
Getting visibly emotional, Pelinka continued:
“A handful of minutes later Kobe, Gianna, and 7 other beautiful souls ascended into heaven.”
Pelinka continued:
“The girl in that text chain, who he had wanted to help so badly, was Lexi Altobelli, the surviving daughter of coach John Altobelli who was also on the helicopter.”