The Los Angeles Lakers have announced that their first game at Staples Center since the tragic death of Kobe Bryant on Friday night will not be broadcast outside the arena as previous contests have been.
Public service announcement. The Lakers game won’t be shown on the screens outside Staples Center. So if you don’t have a ticket to the game, it’s encouraged to watch with family or friends so you don’t miss it. Of course, anyone is still welcome at the public memorial though
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 31, 2020
The Lakers will be facing the Portland Trail Blazers as the organization and team members attempt to forge ahead after what’s been an emotionally wrenching week.
Bryant’s shocking death, along with those of his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people, resulted in an intense outpouring of grief from basketball fans across the globe.
Pregame ceremonies to remember Bryant, who spent 20 legendary seasons with the team, will be held and broadcast on ESPN.
The Lakers last played on Saturday night in Philadelphia, a game in which LeBron James passed Bryant on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Roughly 13 hours later, Bryant, his daughter and the other victims, perished in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif.
Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti has announced plans for a public memorial for Bryant, with the date and place to be announced.
“There will absolutely be a memorial to mark the contributions of this incredible man and not only him, but to commemorate the loss of his daughter and all the other families that were there,” Garcetti said Thursday. “We don’t have that date finalized but we’ve been talking every day to the Lakers, and most importantly, to [Bryant’s widow, Vanessa] as well. I think one message that I would say is this is not just about a man who was a basketball player, this is about a father, this is about a leader, this is about a filmmaker, this is about an artist, this is about somebody who was so much more than just how he was on the court.”
Entering Friday night’s game, the Lakers continue to hold the best record in the NBA’s Western Conference with a 36-10 record.
