The Lakers on Friday are hosting and playing their first game since Kobe Bryant’s death on Sunday. The team had several days to decide how they would honor Kobe in the game, and we already have a glimpse.
The floor at Staples Center in Los Angeles will have numbers 8 and 24 on it, representing each of the jersey numbers Kobe wore in his career. Half the seats have a T-shirt with the No. 8 and the other half have shirts with the No. 24 for fans to wear.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 31, 2020
The House That Kobe Built pic.twitter.com/1exfvaXnE8
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 31, 2020
The Lakes will also wear black patches on the upper right side of their jerseys that has the “KB” initials for Kobe Bryant.
2 8 pic.twitter.com/DeKsRqcTry
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 31, 2020
No surprise, ticket prices for the game between the Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers are featuring astronomical prices. Even the ticket prices just to get in were high and going for a minimum of around $800 at last check.
Fans have been paying tribute to Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center and the surrounding L.A. Live area all week. Many more want to be there for the team’s first game since Kobe’s death to pay respect in the best way possible — by watching his beloved Lakers take the court in the building where Kobe entertained fans for so many years.
More Larry Brown Sports coverage of Kobe Bryant’s death:
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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
– 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
– Trae Young’s huge game was full of Kobe Bryant-related statistical coincidences
More coverage:
– Video: Kobe Bryant helicopter audio released
– Investigators release chilling drone footage from Kobe Bryant helicopter crash site
– Media errors, rumors, poor judgment run rampant in reporting of Kobe Bryant news
– TMZ says they had permission from Kobe’s people to report Bryant had died
– NBA postpones Tuesday’s Lakers-Clippers game after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Shaq says he had not spoken to Kobe Bryant in nearly four years
– Kobe Bryant recently filed for ‘Mambacita’ trademark for daughter Gianna
– Kobe Bryant checked in on Shaq’s son Shareef morning of helicopter crash
– No, Rick Fox did not die in helicopter crash that killed Kobe, Gianna Bryant
– Lakers fans start memorial to Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center
– Kobe Bryant’s last tweet was congratulating LeBron James on passing him
– Sports world stunned over Kobe Bryant news
– Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash – dead at 41
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