Family, friends, legends eulogize Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna at emotional memorial
The memories of NBA legend and his daughter Kobe Bryant and Gianna were celebrated at an emotional and poignant memorial Monday afternoon in Los Angeles.
Widow Vanessa Bryant stoically eulogized their memories and lamented the lives cuts short for both her husband and 13-year-old daughter. They died along with seven others in a helicopter crash in January.
Sports legends and celebrities filled a packed Staples Center for the memorial, including Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez, former Lakers coach Phil Jackson, Jerry West, Steph Curry, Snoop Dog and NBA commissioner Adam Silver were also on hand.
Jimmy Kimmel hosted the event, which started with a stirring performance of “XO” by Beyonce, accompanied by an orchestra and choir.
Among the speakers were University of Connecticut women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma, WNBA basketball star Diana Taurasi, and NBA legend Michael Jordan. Jordan, who had tears streaming down his face, talked about how close he was with Bryant and how often Bryant would call or text him for advice. Jordan joked that he was hesitant to speak at the memorial because of the Jordan crying memes that are so prevalent on social media.
“I told my wife I wasn’t going to do this because I didn’t want to see those for the next three or four years,” Jordan said to a loud roar of laughter. “That’s what Kobe Bryant does to me. He knows how to get to you that effects you personally, even if he’s being a pain in the ass.”
Alicia Keyes played Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” a song Kobe loved and learned to play on the piano, along with an orchestra.
Christina Aguilera sang a beautiful version of the “Ave Maria,” before Shaquille O’Neal spoke about his former teammate and drawing one of the biggest laughs of the day with a story about trying to get Bryant to pass the ball more.
The program concluded with Bryant’s Oscar-winning short film “Dear Basketball.”
This story was originally published February 24, 2020 at 2:17 PM.
