LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 26: Laker Kobe Bryant #24 celebrates after hitting a three point shot in the fourth quarter as the Lakers beat the Jazz 119-109 during game two of a first round Western Conference playoff basketball game between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center on Tuesday April 21, 2009 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
As could have been expected after the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, Tuesday night’s Lakers-Clippers game has been postponed.
As the world continues to process the tragic death of Kobe Bryant on Sunday, Tuesday night’s Lakers-Clippers game might have served as a welcome respite for local fans as well as an opportunity to pay a full-fledged tribute to him at Staples Center.
But on Monday afternoon the NBA announced the game has been postponed, out of respect for Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the seven other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash. A makeup date will be set later.
The Lakers’ organization as a whole, including legendary past players and in particular Bryant’s close friend LeBron James, surely need to take a step back for a few days to fully reconcile with Bryant’s sudden passing. James has yet to come out publicly in reaction to the tragedy, but when he does it will be well thought out.
The Lakers are next scheduled to play at home Friday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, which at this point is slated to go on as scheduled. That may be the night they give Bryant the type of memorial tribute the organization wants to give him, and he deserves. The Clippers will actually play their next game at Staples Center the night before, Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings, so a tribute that night is surely coming too.
Sunday’s slate of games went on as scheduled in the hours immediately after Bryant’s death, with multiple on-court tributes from teams and players. But his legacy is obviously firmly embedded in Los Angeles, so it’s no surprise Tuesday night’s Lakers-Clippers game was postponed with the benefit of a little more space from the tragedy. Ultimately it was not just the right decision to postpone the game–it was the only decision.