The Los Angeles Lakers will play their first game since the tragic death of lifelong star player Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna last Sunday with Friday's matchup with the visiting Portland Trail Blazers. While the contest is expected to dim in compare of the celebration and public memorial for the Bryants, the Lakers having added touches to the Staples Center to honor the tremendous loss of the future Hall of Fame shooting guard along with his daughter and seven others.
The Lakers have affixed a black patch with “KB” near the right shoulder of their jersey (via The Athletic's Shams Charania on Twitter).
The Los Angeles Lakers' new jersey patch to honor the late Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/zm7gohbJJE
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 31, 2020
The NBA previously canceled and postponed Tuesday's Lakers-Clippers matchup at the Staples Center as both organizations were grieving the inexplicable loss of the L.A. sports icon. The Clippers played their next game yesterday, on Thursday, losing to the Sacramento Kings. Despite being an enemy of Bryant's for the retired eighteen-time All-Star, the Clippers along with Angelenos could not help but mourn the lifelong Laker's tragic loss.
The Lakers' next game since the Jan. 26 accident is tonight, where they were debut the patches honor Bryant's passing. Carmelo Anthony, the Portland Trail Blazers forward who won two gold medals alongside Bryant on Team USA at the Summer Olympics, will not play on Friday as he continues to grieve his friend.
It is sure to be an emotionally charged evening at the Staples Center on Friday with players, coaches, and fans in attendance all have Bryant's devastating passing on their mind, with actual basketball second.
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