Every item that was left at the Kobe Bryant memorial outside the Staples Center came with a handwritten note.
Mourners immediately started gathering outside of Staples Center after Bryant passed away in a tragic helicopter crash that also killed his daughter Gianna. In total, those who gathered outside the Los Angeles Lakers' homecourt left 1,353 basketballs and over 25,000 candles, as well jerseys, flowers, shoes, paintings and stuffed animals.
Article Continues Below“It was amazing to me that out of all of the thousands of items that we collected and put in 37 containers, that every one of them had a handwritten note,” Staples Center president Lee Zeidman said, via Sports Illustrated.
“All had personal messages, including the shoes. Everyone grieves in their own way. Me, personally, knowing Kobe for 24 years and the family for that long, it was amazing to me and overwhelming to me as it related to what people actually did. How much thought and how much trouble they actually went to to come down to L.A. Live from I believe all over the country and leave these tributes to Kobe, Gianna and the seven others that lost their lives.”
The passing of Kobe Bryant is going to take a long time to get over. Lakers players were very emotional last week against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center during their tribute to Kobe.
Los Angeles has the best record in the West. However, nothing would make this season more special than to see LeBron James and Anthony Davis lead the Lakers to the Larry O'Brien Trophy come June. Both players were close with Bryant and his passing would undoubtedly motivate them to win it all this year.
The Lakers retired Bryant’s No. 8 and 24 jerseys last year. Now, the late basketball icon is set to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer as part of an incredible class later this year.