Trae Young had perhaps the game of his life on Sunday in tribute to Kobe Bryant, and the stat sheet reflected as much.
The Atlanta Hawks guard, who was Gianna Bryant’s favorite player, put up 45 points, six rebounds, and 14 assists in a win over the Washington Wizards. The stat line was rife with Bryant-related statistical coincidences. Young attempted 24 shots on the day (24 was Bryant’s jersey number for the second half of his career) and shot 81 percent (13-for-16) from the free throw line (81 was Bryant’s famous career-high in points).
The 21-year-old was also the first player to put up such a stat line (a 45-point double-double with under 25 field goal attempts) against Washington since … you guessed it, Kobe Bryant.
Young acknowledged as much on Twitter afterwards, saying that Bryant “was with me tonight.”
Can’t make this up…
He was with me tonight https://t.co/uvse4bMpuK— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) January 27, 2020
Young began the game wearing No. 8 (Bryant’s original jersey number) as a tribute in the wake of the 41-year-old’s untimely passing, and the special stat line was a fitting homage to Bryant as well.
…This S*** can’t be real… this the first moment I was able to meet Gianna Maria, she’s been to only 3 games this year… 2 of them were mine… She told me I was her favorite player to watch I can’t believe this
Rest Easy Gigi pic.twitter.com/IfDrE9Gjlv
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) January 26, 2020
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
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
More coverage:
– Media errors, rumors, poor judgment run rampant in reporting of Kobe Bryant news
– 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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