Sports News - Lakers honor Kobe Bryant in first game since his death
Lakers honor life of Kobe Bryant with an emotional tribute at Staples Center in Los Angeles
The jerseys of late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant (R) and his daughter Gianna are draped on the seats where they last sat at Staples Center when attending a game on Dec. 29, during the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, January 31, 2020 in Los Angeles. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Lakers honor life of Kobe Bryant with an emotional tribute at Staples Center in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James speaks during the Los Angeles Lakers' pregame ceremony to honor Kobe Bryant before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on Friday, January 31, 2020 in Los Angeles. James, who is in his second season with the Lakers and passed Bryant to take third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list Saturday night, held a small piece of white paper but quickly tossed it aside. "I got something written down. They asked me to stay on course, but Laker Nation, I would be selling y'all short if I read off this shit, so I'm going to go straight from the heart," he said. "The first thing that comes to mind, as I look around this arena, we're all grieving, we're all hurt, we're all heartbroken, but when we're going through things like this, the best thing you can do is lean on the shoulders of your family. And from Sunday morning until this point ...I've heard about Laker Nation and how much of a family it is ... and that is absolutely what I've seen this whole week. ... This is really, truly a family." Photo by Jim Ruymen/UP
Lakers honor life of Kobe Bryant with an emotional tribute at Staples Center in Los Angeles
Usher sings "Amazing Grace" during the Los Angeles Lakers' pregame ceremony to honor Kobe Bryant before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on Friday, January 31, 2020 in Los Angeles. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Lakers honor life of Kobe Bryant with an emotional tribute at Staples Center in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Lakers honor Kobe Bryant by spotlighting his jerseys prior to the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on Friday, January 31, 2020 in Los Angeles. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Lakers honor life of Kobe Bryant with an emotional tribute at Staples Center in Los Angeles
The jerseys of late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant (R) and his daughter Gianna are draped on the seats where they last sat at Staples Center when attending a game on Dec. 29, during the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, January 31, 2020 in Los Angeles. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Lakers honor life of Kobe Bryant with an emotional tribute at Staples Center in Los Angeles
Los Angeles philharmonic cellist Ben Hong sets the background music during a stirring video tribute Lakers' pregame ceremony to honor Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the seven other people who died last Sunday in a helicopter crash before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on Friday, January 31, 2020 in Los Angeles. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Lakers honor life of Kobe Bryant with an emotional tribute at Staples Center in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron (2nd-L) hangs his head during the Los Angeles Lakers' pregame ceremony to honor Kobe Bryant before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on Friday, January 31, 2020 in Los Angeles. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Lakers honor life of Kobe Bryant with an emotional tribute at Staples Center in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James hugs teammate Anthony Davis during the Los Angeles Lakers' pregame ceremony to honor Kobe Bryant before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on Friday, January 31, 2020 in Los Angeles. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Lakers honor life of Kobe Bryant with an emotional tribute at Staples Center in Los Angeles
Fans sit court side during the Los Angeles Lakers' pregame ceremony to honor Kobe Bryant before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on Friday, January 31, 2020 in Los Angeles. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Lakers honor life of Kobe Bryant with an emotional tribute at Staples Center in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Lakers' don Kobe Bryant's number 8 and 24 jerseys during the Los Angeles Lakers' warmup prior to a pregame ceremony to honor Bryant before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on Friday, January 31, 2020 in Los Angeles. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI