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Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is the latest star athlete to pay tribute to the late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.
The NHL superstar usually wears number eight, but for the team's next game, Ovechkin wore number 24 during warmups. Ovechkin wore the jersey for Wednesday's game against the Nashville Predators which is set to start at 7:30 pm.
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 30, 2020
Bryant, who wore number eight and 24 throughout his career with the Lakers, tragically passed away alongside his daughter and seven other passengers in a helicopter crash this weekend.
Bryant's unfortunate death has sent shockwaves throughout the sports world, and many athletes are doing what they can to honor the legacy of the five-time Lakers champion.
Moreover, Ovechkin's number 24 jersey will be signed and put up for auction after the game. The proceeds will then be donated to the Kobe & Vannessa Bryant Family Foundation which seeks to improve the lives of families in need.
The Capitals star has publicly expressed his love for basketball, particularly for Kobe Bryant, in the past. Ovechkin also grew up with basketball, as his mother Tatyana was an Olympian for the Soviet Union's women's basketball team that won the gold medal in both 1976 and 1980
Like Bryant, Ovechkin is one of the best players in the history of his respective sport. The 34-year-old wing has been named to the All-NHL First Team eight times and is a three-time league MVP. Ovi also won his first career Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018.
