Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers was visibly emotional as he spoke about the tragic death of Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant on Sunday in Calabasas.
Rivers iterated “We're all Lakers today” as he spoke about Bryant while struggling to find the words to describe his emotions.
Doc Rivers: "Everybody right now is a Laker fan. We're all Lakers today."
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) January 26, 2020
Gut wrenching pregame press conference with Clippers' coach Doc Rivers – "Sorry I don't have a lot to say. I have to go talk to a team before a game and tell them to play and I can't."pic.twitter.com/76ZU4cdZZF
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) January 26, 2020
The Clippers are set to take on the Orlando Magic on Sunday, but it is clear Rivers and the NBA community have far more than basketball on their mind.
Rivers has spoken at length about his respect for Bryant in the past. The former Boston Celtics head coach had a pair of epic NBA Finals clashes with Bryant's Lakers teams in 2008 and 2010, with each side winning a series in the course of those matchups.
In fact, Rivers had so much respect for Kobe that he refused to take his starters out with a 42-point lead in Game 6 of the 2008 Finals…because Bryant was still on the court (via FOX Sports):
“Of all the guys to say that, it’s Tom Thibodeau. And I looked over there at the Lakers and Kobe was still on the floor, and I actually said, ‘When Phil takes that guy out, I take my guys out.’ And Thibs said, ‘You’re safe.’ And I said, ‘Not with that guy on the floor.’
“I was dead serious. I had obviously lost my mind because it was a 42-point lead. But he put that fear in you, man. He could run off threes. I was obviously not good at math, so I was worried about him. Then finally Phil took him out so I could sub. It was good.”
Even though Doc Rivers and Kobe Bryant were often opponents, the Lakers legend garnered plenty of admiration even from his toughest competitors in the league during his playing days.
Follow Us
Subscribe