Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was one of the first NBA stars that had to go out on the floor despite learning of Kobe Bryant's death, as the Los Angeles Lakers legend died on Sunday in a helicopter crash, alongside his daughter Gianna, 13, and seven others.
Sunday's matinee game between the Houston Rockets and the Nuggets was set to tip off only minutes after the news broke, making it impossible for the Pepsi Center to cancel the game and refund the tickets, considering the arena already had plenty of spectators.
Jokic, like many other NBA stars, mourned the loss of Bryant, putting up a 24-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist triple-double the day of his passing.
“I couldn’t believe it. He’s not just a legend here, he’s a legend across the world,” said Jokic after a 117-110 win over the struggling Rockets. “We lost a huge person, a role model. It’s a huge loss for everybody.”
Jokic admitted it was tough to play under such somber news but admitted to making the most of Kobe Bryant's maniacally competitive mindset to go out on the floor, regardless of injuries or anything else.
“When you think about Kobe it’s ‘no excuse.' Nothing can put your mind off what you love to do,” said Jokic.
The Joker chose to grieve by putting up a big-time performance against the Rockets, though it was quite visible that most players were affected and quite hit by the news.
Jokic broke into the league in 2015-16, Bryant's farewell season — giving him just enough opportunities to meet The Mamba before his unfortunate passing on Sunday.
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