NBA: The great tribute to Kobe Bryant at the Staples: “I can't imagine life without you” | NBA 2019

Vanessa Bryant and a shower of companions and friends fire Kobe and Gianna Bryant in an emotional ceremony.

The ros of people dressed in gold and purple did not wait. At eight o'clock in the morning the surroundings of the Staples Center in Los Angeles emulated the atmosphere of an important game day, even if there was nothing at stake and it was Monday. The occasion, in fact, was much more relevant than any shock. It was about firing a fraud, one of the greatest players that has given the history of basketball.

That's why there were cakes to get a raffle ticket to be at the Staples Center on the day of the farewell of Kobe Bryant. And that's why paper runs out in a short time, 20,000 entries in total. The most persistent and fortunate witnessed live an emotional ceremony as few, full of memories for the local legend, for his daughter Gianna Bryant, aged 13, and for the other seven killed in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles on January 26.

They were all there. Or almost everyone. Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Phil Jackson, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rick Fox, James Worthy, A.C. Green, Byron Scott, Dwayne Wade, Steve Nash, Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, Tim Duncan, Greg Popovich and a long list of players and figures from the world of entertainment.

Beyonc He opened the ceremony by interpreting two of Bryant's favorite songs, XO Y Halo, Y Alicia Keys knock on the piano Moonlight from Beethoven, a piece that the player himself had managed to learn as a romantic gesture towards his wife, Vanessa Bryant.

“An unforgettable smile”

She had the hardest and bitter drink, talking about her daughter and her husband in front of thousands of people. It turned out to be the most emotional moment of the event by far, his first public appearance after the tragedy. He was able to control the tears and the initial sadness and dedicate a meaningful speech to both. He began with his 13-year-old daughter, “a gentle soul with an unforgettable smile”, her best friend and the girl who never forgot to kiss her in the morning and at night, the lover of cooking classes, of the swimming, football, the one that spoke Mandarin and Spanish and the one that aspired to become the best player in the WNBA basketball.

“I can't imagine my life without you,” said her mother crying, lamenting things that will no longer come, such as a driving license or her wedding day. “It makes us proud and still does.”

He was evoked by Bryant as the “perfect husband”, a romantic guy and an impeccable father who always maintained the spirit of struggle and overcoming among his daughters. He showered them, told them jokes before putting them in bed and was always there for them. “We balanced each other. He was affectionate, loving and romantic.”

Michael Jordan He could not contain tears either. “Nothing was left in the tank, I left everything on the court,” said the basketball legend. “Many are surprised that we were very close friends, but we loved him. He was like my little brother”, remembering the number of times I called him late at night to ask him “dumb questions”, always looking to be “better athlete and better person, “he said. “With him dies a part of m”.

He also had his turn Shaquille O'Neal, with whom Bryant won three NBA rings. Compare your complex relationship with that of John Lennon Y Paul MCCARTNEY, in an immature struggle for the leadership of the Lakers that resulted in a deep friendship. “There was always a deep respect and love between us,” he said before saying goodbye to his partner.