Tributes to Kobe Bryant dominate sports world
A sign reading "Kobe Rest In Peace" is displayed on an empty seat in the first half of an NBA game between the Phoenix Suns and the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in Memphis, Tenn. Credit: AP/Brandon Dill
The sports world mourned the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant with numerous tributes on Sunday.
-- 76ers star Tobias Harris, who grew up in Dix Hills and starred at Half Hollow Hills West, honored Bryant in a message posted on his verified Twitter account. “Hurting,” Harris wrote. “To say the least … ” That was followed by two sad face emojis and “#MyHero.”
-- Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman, who starred at Patchogue-Medford High School, tweeted a photo of Bryant with his family and the words: “RIP Kobe Bryant man.”
-- Many of the tributes at NBA games on Sunday involved Bryant’s two jersey numbers worn during his 20-year career with the Lakers, 8 and 24. Both numbers are retired by the Lakers. Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young, who normally wears No. 11, switched and wore No. 8 to start his game against the Wizards. Young finished with 45 points and 14 assists.
Hawks guard Trae Young wears a No. 8 jersey honoring former NBA player Kobe Bryant prior to a game against the Wizards on Sunday in Atlanta. Credit: AP/Todd Kirkland
-- In Orlando, the Clippers won the opening tip against the Magic and took a 24-second clock violation. The Magic followed with an 8-second backcourt violation. The same happened after the tip of the Suns-Grizzlies game in Memphis and the Pacers-Trail Blazers game in Portland. During the Raptors-Spurs and Pelicans-Celtics games, all four teams took 24-second court violations to start those games. There was a moment of silence before the Rockets-Nuggets game in Denver, the first game on the NBA's Sunday schedule.
-- Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said in a statement released by the team that No. 24 would never be worn again by a Mavericks player. "Kobe's legacy transcends basketball, and our organization has decided that the number 24 will never again be worn by a Dallas Maverick," Cuban said.
-- Bryant was a big fan of women’s basketball, often seen at games with daughter Gianna. Bryant had visited with the Oregon Ducks and attended their games with his daughter. Before the Oregon-Oregon State game on Sunday in Corvallis, players from both teams joined in a circle at midcourt to honor Bryant. Ducks star guard Sabrina Ionescu was visibly in tears during a pregame moment of silence and she had “Forever 24” written in marker on her left sneaker and “24” with a heart symbol on her right sneaker. “Everything I do, I do it for him,” Ionescu said after the game. “Obviously, really close friend and this season is for him.”
-- Tiger Woods, a lifelong Lakers fan and friend of Bryant, played his final round in the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego on Sunday. He learned about Bryant’s death after finishing his round. “I really didn’t understand why the people in the gallery were saying, ‘Do it for Mamba,’ but now I understand,” Woods told CBS Sports. “It’s a shocker to everyone.”
With wire reports
