A memorial service inside Staples Center on Monday celebrated the lives of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. The date — Feb. 24 — reflects the basketball jersey numbers worn by Kobe (No. 24) and Gianna (No. 2). The service was held just less than a month after Bryant, 13-year-old Gianna and seven others died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Jan. 26.
More than 20,000 people — friends, family and those who acquired tickets through a lottery (80,000 applied) — crowded into the arena, with ticket proceeds benefiting the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.
Vanessa Bryant, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and Diana Taurasi were among those who spoke during the memorial, while Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera performed.
Here is how Los Angeles, the Lakers and the NBA world honored Kobe and Gianna Bryant.
“He was my everything.”
Vanessa Bryant remembers Kobe at the Celebration of Life. pic.twitter.com/vHb9xP0qmm
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 24, 2020
“Gigi would have easily become the best player in the WNBA.”
Vanessa Bryant remembers her daughter, Gianna. pic.twitter.com/9tv3w8wL6a
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 24, 2020
The strength Vanessa Bryant just showed is remarkable. #KobeFarewell
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) February 24, 2020
“As I got to know him, I wanted to be the best big brother that I could be.”
Michael Jordan on Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/dTSp7VDosP
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 24, 2020
needed dat MJ 🙌🏽🤣
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) February 24, 2020
I covered Michael Jordan in Chicago and Washington. I thought I had already seen the last of his knockout performances. I was wrong. That was exceptional and generous and exactly right.
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 24, 2020
This crying Jordan is the best. #kobememorial
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) February 24, 2020
“Kobe lived to make other people’s lives better.”
Rob Pelinka remembers his friend, Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/URIc9s8l3p
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 24, 2020
“I said Kobe, there’s no ‘I’ in team and Kobe said I know, but there’s an ‘M’ ‘E’ in that (expletive).” – Shaq on the moment he gained respect for Kobe Bryant pic.twitter.com/JXx7jsyT2L
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) February 24, 2020
Beyoncé opens Kobe & Gianna’s Celebration of Life with one of his favorite songs.
(via @SpectrumSN) pic.twitter.com/SfcdOhtbLx
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 24, 2020
Our first performance of the morning. Beyoncé. Wow.
— The Undefeated (@TheUndefeated) February 24, 2020
Saw Beyoncé perform with Destiny’s Child during the 2001 NBA Finals in Philadelphia when Kobe Bryant and the Lakers played the Sixers. Now she leads off Bryant’s Celebration of Life in L.A. with XO and Halo. Life is a trip, man.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 24, 2020
Alicia Keys performs her rendition of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata at Kobe & Gianna’s Celebration of Life. pic.twitter.com/yzPY3lakWk
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 24, 2020
Geno Auriemma on Kobe bringing Gigi to visit UConn for the first time: “He was being dad, he wasn’t being Kobe Bryant. And he was allowing Gigi to be Gigi, not Kobe Bryant’s daughter.” pic.twitter.com/VPtUDpSFJW
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 24, 2020
“He was giving me the blueprint. He was giving Gigi the same blueprint.”
Sabrina Ionescu on Kobe and Gianna Bryant. pic.twitter.com/2nBSuCZUuf
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 24, 2020
“Her skill was undeniable at an early age. I mean, who has a turn-away fadeaway jumper at 11?”
Diana Taurasi on Gigi. @wslam pic.twitter.com/NmgviONTLP
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 24, 2020
That Diana Taurasi, Sabrina Ionescu and Geno Auriemma spoke at Kobe and Gianna Bryant’s memorial today really speaks to how sincere his interest in and commitment to women’s basketball was. We can hope that truly does inspire and motivate others.
— Mechelle Voepel (@MechelleV) February 24, 2020
.@jimmykimmel says there are hundreds of murals honoring Kobe Bryant “not just in L.A., across the country, in Kobe’s hometown, Philadelphia; in Italy; in India; the Philippines; China; New York; Phoenix-Boston, for God’s sake!” https://t.co/er2wUh5jLP pic.twitter.com/cFdE9HnUoK
— ABC News (@ABC) February 24, 2020
Attendees at Kobe and Gianna’s Celebration of Life are receiving a book filled with Bryant family photos.
(via @kylegoon) pic.twitter.com/vScBzJYX05
— ESPN (@espn) February 24, 2020
People closest to Kobe Bryant share the stories they’re looking back on ahead of Monday’s memorial. — Ramona Shelburne
The morning after LeBron James passed Kobe Bryant for third in all-time scoring, on the flight home from Philadelphia, the Lakers learned of Bryant’s death. — Dave McMenamin
Kobe had the skill and knowledge to be any kind of player he wanted to be. — Zach Lowe
From his first NBA media day to his phenomenal final game, we reveal the untold stories behind the most legendary images of the Black Mamba.
Latest news and reaction
Remembering Kobe
5:21
Shelley Smith describes how impactful Kobe Bryant was for youth sports around the world and how his legacy continues to push kids to be excellent in whatever they do.
1:47
Hip-hop artist and actor Ice Cube reveals that his favorite Kobe Bryant memory comes from seeing Kobe play in person for the first time.
From the archive: ESPN writers on Kobe