In images, in picturesThe death of the former NBA star in a helicopter crash turned the basketball world upside down. Anonymous as the greatest sportsmen and stars of the song paid tribute to him.
Flowers, grave faces and candles. Hundreds of fans gathered on Sunday, January 26, near the Staples Center stadium in central Los Angeles in the United States to mourn their idol Kobe Bryant.
Five-time NBA champion with the Lakers, his lifelong club, the basketball player died in a helicopter crash with eight others in Calabasas, southern California, according to the city mayor and the provincial governor. Her 13-year-old daughter Gianna is among the victims.
"At each parade, I was there. For his last game, I was there ", said a sigh a young man with red eyes of sadness in front of the Staples Center, place of the exploits of Kobe Bryant, where many fans flocked during the day. Several held up placards with the photo of the Lakers star and inscriptions like "RIP, we love you Kobe # 24", with reference to the number of his jersey. Others, disorientated, sang "Go Kobe".
A gigantic electronic billboard located near the Staples Center also showed a portrait of the basketball player with the following message: "In memory of Kobe Bryant, 1978-2020".
An admirer came to lay a funeral wreath outside the stadium, the access to which was closed to the public due to the Grammy Awards gala held there on Sunday. "Tonight is for Kobe", launched singer Lizzo, a big favorite with eight nominations, at the opening of the ceremony. Accompanied by the Boyz II Men, Alicia Keys also paid tribute to Kobe Bryant by performing a cappella It's so Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday. "The world has lost a hero", said the singer.
After consultation between the players, the franchises and the NBA, all of Sunday's games were continued. In Atlanta and San Antonio, the players deliberately did not play for the first twenty-four seconds, in homage to the number of their last jersey. In Denver, a minute of silence was respected, but there are countless "Kobe, Kobe" chanted by the public who made themselves heard.
