TORONTO — Kobe Bryant was remembered with a video tribute and a moment of silence before the Toronto Raptors tipped off against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.
The retired Los Angeles Lakers legend and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash that also killed seven others on Sunday. He was 41.
The video showed highlights of the five-time NBA champion and 18-time all-star, including his 81-point outburst against the Raptors in 2006 — the second highest point total by a player in NBA history.
“There will never be another Kobe Bryant,” said the video voiceover.
The Scotiabank Arena crowd, that was dotted with a few dozen purple and gold Bryant jerseys, chanted “Ko-be! Ko-be!”
Toronto’s CN Tower was lit up in Lakers purple and gold on Sunday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2020.
The Canadian Press