NBA postpones Tuesday’s Lakers-Clippers game after Kobe Bryant’s death

January 27, 2020

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Tuesday night’s game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers will not be played as scheduled in response to the death of Kobe Bryant.

The league announced Monday that the game, which would have been the Lakers’ first since Bryant’s death, has been postponed and will be played at a later date yet to be determined. That decision was made out of respect for the Lakers organization.

Lakers Clippers has been postponed pic.twitter.com/fC2LToY92L

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) January 27, 2020

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Lakers players simply are not ready to play right now.

Lakers players, coaches and officials and entire organization have been deeply grieving loss of Kobe Bryant. “These guys are not ready to play basketball right now,” one source close to Lakers and Clippers players said today. https://t.co/bsDgCGoxeU

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 27, 2020

The Lakers’ next scheduled game would be Friday at home against the Portland Trail Blazers.

We have not heard much from the Lakers since Bryant’s death, and that is understandable. Every organization is suffering from Bryant’s loss, but none moreso than theirs. You only need to see how LeBron James was doing after the team flight landed to know that these players just aren’t in any condition to talk to the media or play a basketball game right now. They will do so in due course.

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:
– 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
– 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