The Los Angeles Lakers paid tribute Friday night to franchise legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven other people who died in a helicopter crash Sunday in the Los Angeles area. It was the Lakers' first game since Bryant's death, and the Staples Center crowd was emotional.
Before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers began, players took to the court for warmups wearing Bryant's jerseys, R&B artist Usher and cellist Ben Hong performed, and a 24.2 seconds moment of silence was held in a nod to the numbers worn by both Bryants.
The celebration of Bryant's life was capped by a speech from current Lakers' star LeBron James. James honored his friend by going off script, foregoing a pre-written speech and dropping an expletive that elicited great enthusiasm from the grieving crowd before he spoke "straight from the heart."
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The Lakers eventually lost to Portland, but the result felt inconsequential. Read more at ESPN.
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