By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The tragic death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna send shockwaves all around the globe. The sports world is mourning, and Michael Jordan expressed his condolences via a written statement.
“I am in shock over the tragic news of Kobe’s and Gianna’s passing. Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling. I loved Kobe – he was like a little brother to me. We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much. He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force. Kobe was also an amazing dad who loved his family deeply – and took great pride in his daughter’s love for the game of basketball. Yvette joins me in sending my deepest condolences to Vanessa, the Lakers organization, and basketball fans around the world.”
All-time greats like Karim Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Julius Erving, Shaquille O’Neal, and Bill Russell also expressed their sadness in social media. The current generation of NBA players did the same and tributes all around the NBA arenas were made with teams starting games with 24-second and 8-second violations, in honor of the two numbers that Kobe had on his jerseys.
Nets‘ Kyrie Irving decided not to play on Sunday due to his mourning, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement on Kobe.
“The NBA family is devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning. He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary: five NBA championships, an NBA MVP award, 18 NBA All-Star selections, and two Olympic gold medals. But he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability. He was generous with the wisdom he acquired and saw it as his mission to share it with future generations of players, taking special delight in passing down his love of the game to Gianna. We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their family, the Lakers organization and the entire sports world.”