On Monday afternoon, the Los Angeles Lakers released their first statement on the passing of legend Kobe Bryant. The 20-year Laker passed away on Sunday morning in a helicopter crash along with daughter Gianna and seven other people.
“In consultation with the NBA League office, the game scheduled between the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers for Tuesday, January 28 will be postponed and scheduled for a future date.
The Los Angeles Lakers would like to thank all of you for the tremendous outpouring of support and condolences. This is a very difficult time for all of us. We continue to support the Bryant family and will share more information as it is available.”
The Lakers-Clippers game on Tuesday will be suspended and postponed with both teams in mourning — along with the NBA community and sports world still grappling with the sudden and tragic losses of Bryant and his teenaged daughter.
Lakers star forward LeBron James, a close friend of Bryant and former on-court adversary who looked up to the future Hall of Famer when he entered the league, was seen emotional on the airport tarmac after the team arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday. The team heard the shocking news of the helicopter crash while onboard the team plane to LA from Philadelphia.
James had only just spoken to Bryant on Saturday night over the phone, with his teammates around the three-time champion, after he surpassed Kobe for third all-time in scoring.
The NBA is still weighing different ways to memorialize Kobe Bryant, with various petitions up in the air like people calling for the logo to be changed to the deceased basketball great and the league's All-Stars wearing Bryant's former jersey Nos. 8 and 24 at the All-Star Game next month.
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