NBA players continue to pay tribute to slain rapper Nipsey Hussle. But while most of them have taken to social media to show respect for the artist, Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard honored him through his game-worn sneakers against the Orlando Magic.

Nipsey Hussle, who is Ermias Asghedom in real life, was gunned down near his clothing store in Los Angeles yesterday.

A lot of NBA players respect Nipsey, not only for his contributions in the rap and hip-hop industry but also for his advocacy to end gun and gang-related violence.

Last month, Nipsey's first ever studio album “Victory Lap” received a Grammy nomination for the best rap album of the year. Although he eventually lost to Cardi B's “Invasion,” there's no denying that it's one of the biggest recognition Hussle has received in his 10-plus years as a rapper.

Investigations are still ongoing to determine the killer of the LA-native rapper, but according to police reports, the assailant might have come from the Bloods, a prominent street gang founded in Los Angeles. In Nipsey's Facebook account, it is stated that he's associated with the Crips, also a notorious gang in Los Angeles.

However, Hussle never promoted violence to solve conflicts. He was always against it, which is kind of ironic that it's one of the possible reasons why he was killed.