Mourners Pay Tribute to Bryant Kobe
Tributes have continued to pour out from the social media space over the helicopter crash that involved former NBA legend, Kobe Bryant and eight others.
Images and videos have begun to flood the social media space with mourners paying their respects outside the arena after the crash in Calabasas, California.
Fans brought flowers and left hats, jerseys and other memorabilia in a tribute to the former Los Angeles Lakers basketball star.
READ: More Findings Emerge on Kobe Bryant’s Helicopter Crash
Tributes were also paid to the 5-time NBA winner at the Grammy’s as it became a sad scene.
Fans were also outside the Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks, California, which Bryant founded and was reported going to with his daughter for basketball practice.
Although, the NBA kept its games on as scheduled when the news broke. But the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors both took voluntary 24-second shot clock violations at the start of their game in honor of Bryant, who wore No. 24 for the second half of his career.
Bryant, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time was a first-round pick in the 1996 draft and spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers, winning five NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP titles and 18 All-Star titles before retiring in 2016.
The Philadelphia native was also on 15 All-NBA Teams, 12 All-Defensive Teams and represented the USA at the Olympics in 2008 and 2012.
He was the first guard in NBA history to play at least 20 seasons and was the first and only player in Lakers history to have both of his jersey numbers – 8 and 24 – retired.
He is currently ranked fourth for all-time regular season scoring and all-time postseason scoring.
The impact his career had on fans was apparent in the hours after his death as mourners wearing his No. 8 and No. 14 began assembling outside the Staples Center, where the Grammy Awards were being held Sunday evening.
At the ceremony, Singer Lizzo said the night was for Kobe. Also, the host Alicia Keys paid tribute, telling those gathered for the ceremony: ‘We’re literally standing here, heartbroken, in the house that Kobe Bryant built.’
His longtime Lakers teammate Shaquille O’Neal took to his Twitter page and wrote: ‘There’s no words to express the pain I’m going through now with this tragic and sad moment of losing my friend, my brother, my partner in winning championships, my dude and my homie.
READ: Kobe Bryant Is Dead
‘I love you brother and you will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW!”
See other tributes from former players and others below.
Retired NBA superstar Michael Jordan: Words can’t describe the pain I am feeling. I loved Kobe — he was like a little brother to me,’ Jordan said in a statement. We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much. He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force.
Lebron James: It’s another guy that I looked up to when I was in grade school and high school,’ James told reporters in Bryant’s home town of Philadelphia on Saturday. ‘Seeing him come straight out of high school, he is someone that I used as inspiration.
Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti: ‘Kobe Bryant was a giant who inspired, amazed and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court — and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved,’ wrote on Twitter.
Hall of Famer Larry Bird: Kobe was not only an icon in the sports arena, he was a man of the world and touched so many lives and communities in the most positive ways. His star was continuing to rise every day and he knew no limits because of his many intellectual and creative talents and desire to give back to others – his passion for the game, for his family and for others was apparent in everything he accomplished.’
Pau Gasol, a former teammate of Bryant’s with the Lakers: Beyond devastated… my big brother… I can’t, I just can’t believe it.’
Philadelphia 76ers center Joe Embiid: I had never watched ball before that and that final was the turning point of my life,’ Embiid wrote on Twitter. ‘I WANTED TO BE LIKE KOBE. I’m so FREAKING SAD right now!!!!’
Khloe Kardashian: ‘This can’t be real, there’s no way!!! My heart hurts.
Tristan Thompson: ‘I hope this isn’t true man!!’
Demi Lovato: ‘This makes me so sad.
Travis Barker: ‘RIP KOBE.’
A$AP Rocky: ‘RIP KOBE, SO SAD, SUCH A SAD DAY N SAD NEWS, WE LOVE U’
Former Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Most people will remember Kobe as the magnificent athlete who inspired a whole generation of basketball players. But I will always remember him as a man who was much more than an athlete.
Former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen: I’m stunned. Words can’t even come close to describing it. Just an incredibly sad and tragic day. Bryant will certainly be remembered for his accomplishments – but his most memorable quality was his unwavering self-confidence.
