The Staples Center in Los Angeles was usually filled to the brim with basketball fans ready to cheer on their team, but the activity held on Feb. 24 was for a more somber gathering.
The fans got together for a “Celebration of Life,” the public memorial for the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, who died with seven others in a helicopter crash last month.
Staples Center was the home arena of Bryant, who played with the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years until his retirement.
Celebrities, friends, and fans gathered to remember Bryant, who joined the National Basketball Association at age 18 straight out of high school, was a five-time NBA champion and fourth-highest scorer in league history with 33,643 points.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the arena, as tributes poured one after the other.
Celebrity guests including TV host Jimmy Kimmel, another NBA legend Michael Jordan delivered heartfelt messages, while singer Beyonce made a moving rendition of her hit song, “Halo,” which was Bryant’s favorite song.
“He was mine. He was my everything,” she added.
She also said that would miss the daily kisses of her daughter, Gianna, who never fails to give her a “morning kiss” and a “Good night kiss.”
Kobe and Gianna were laid to rest two weeks ago at the Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary in Corona del Mar.
The others who were killed in the accident were: Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, 56; his wife, Keri; and their daughter Alyssa, 14 — who played on the same club basketball team as Gianna, Christina Mauser, a 38-year-old who was the top assistant coach of the Mamba girls basketball team Sarah Chester, 45; her daughter Payton Chester, 13; and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.
