Damian Lillard puts Kobe Bryant into context with great quote

The Los Angeles Lakers returned to action Friday night for the first time since Kobe Bryant’s death, but it was Damian Lillard who stole the show for the Portland Trail Blazers. The guard dropped 48 points in a 127-119 win in a very memorable game.

Lillard knew Bryant, and definitely understood what made people gravitate toward him. That was proven by a quote the Portland guard dropped after the game that summed up Bryant perfectly.

Damian Lillard told me he was walking into church when he saw the news about Kobe on his phone. He said even after it was confirmed the helicopter went down, he spent all day waiting to hear that Kobe had somehow jumped out safely. “That’s what kind of superhero he was.”

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 1, 2020

A lot of people loved Bryant because he made them feel like they could do anything. It’s part of what made his death so hard to take. Lillard summed that up perfectly with his words. That’s the legacy that LeBron James has vowed to carry on, and many other players like Lillard will, too.

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Other victims of the helicopter crash:
– John Altobelli, junior college baseball coach, also died in helicopter crash
– Christina Mauser, girls’ basketball coach, among the helicopter crash victims
– Sarah Chester, daughter Payton were also killed in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
– Ara Zobayan was the pilot in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash

Tributes to Kobe:
– Vanessa Bryant posts first Instagram message since death of Kobe, Gianna
– NBA players changing jersey numbers in honor of Kobe Bryant
– Clippers leave Kobe Bryant’s retired Lakers jerseys uncovered at Staples Center
– Bill Belichick shares touching anecdote in tribute to Kobe Bryant
– UConn honors Gianna Bryant with own jersey, spot on the bench
– Jeanie Buss shares emotional tribute to Kobe, Gianna Bryant on Instagram
– Kobe Bryant could have street named after him near Staples Center
– Video: Shaq gets emotional talking about Kobe Bryant on TNT
– LeBron James had inspirational message for Lakers during meeting about Kobe
– Video: See LeBron’s tribute speech to Kobe before Lakers game
– Dallas Mavericks retire Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 jersey
– Video: Raptors, Spurs start game with amazing tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Shaq posts heartfelt tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Michael Jordan releases statement on death of ‘little brother’ Kobe Bryant
– Video: Doc Rivers breaks down crying talking about Kobe Bryant
– Phil Jackson calls Kobe Bryant ‘a chosen one’ in statement on his death
– NBA commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on death of Kobe Bryant
– Video: Dwyane Wade posts emotional message reacting to Kobe Bryant’s death
– Kendrick Perkins extends olive branch to Kevin Durant after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Gilbert Arenas vows to begin coaching career like Kobe Bryant urged him to
– Video: Emotional Mike Breen sums up NBA world’s emotions about Kobe Bryant’s death
– Damian Lillard puts Kobe Bryant into context with great quote
– Trae Young’s huge game was full of Kobe Bryant-related statistical coincidences