Videos

Fans Chant ‘Kobe Bryant’ as They Gather Around Staples Center to Mourn Loss of Lakers Legend

Published by
Brad Sullivan

In the immediate aftermath of Kobe Bryant’s stunning death, fans of both Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers have converged at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Bryant and eight other people, including his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday morning.

News of Bryant’s death predictably sparked countless tributes on social media, with fans in the Los Angeles market simply coming to the arena where Bryant played the bulk of his home games over a 20-year career. Bryant’s first three seasons took place at the Great Western Forum.

The drastic change in emotions for fans of the Lakers is in contrast to the joy they’d been experiencing this season with the resurgence of the team.

Even with a loss on Saturday night, the Lakers still have the best record in the Western Conference at 36-10. That mark puts the Lakers on track for their first playoff appearance since 2013, a squad of which Bryant was apart.

During his 20 seasons, Bryant was a centerpiece of five NBA title teams, with fans hoping that this year’s team can pay tribute to his legendary status with another championship.

Brad Sullivan

Brad is a freelance writer for LakersDaily.com, who can clearly recall watching Lakers games in 1972 as they captured the first of their 11 Los Angeles-based titles. The franchise's evolution into a beloved and iconic franchise among its fan base since that memorable year allows for a wider perspective to be a part of his writing about the team's current fortunes.

Published by
Brad Sullivan

Recent Posts

Ja Morant pointed gun gesture at Anthony Davis during Lakers-Grizzlies game

The Los Angeles Lakers improved to 7-4 on the season after they defeated the Memphis…

November 14, 2024

Shams Charania drops major prediction on LeBron James’ remaining timeline in NBA

It's no secret that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is in the twilight of…

November 14, 2024

Report: 5 Lakers ‘non-negotiables’ leaked from private team meeting

The J.J. Redick era is off and running for the Los Angeles Lakers, and part…

November 13, 2024

Lakers reveal updated timeline for Christian Wood’s left knee injury recovery

Los Angeles Lakers big man Christian Wood has yet to play a single game in…

November 12, 2024

Report: Klay Thompson chose Mavericks over Lakers because he believed they had a better chance to win a ring

Before longtime Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson joined the Dallas Mavericks via a sign-and-trade…

November 12, 2024

LeBron James hyped for release of 4K version of Nintendo 64

A social media post from Sunday night purported that a 4K model of the iconic…

November 11, 2024