The sports world and Southern California in particular were thrown into a state of shock in January when Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other passengers tragically passed away in a helicopter accident.
The group was traveling to Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy, where Gianna and her teammates were set to participate in a tournament. The flight was one Bryant had regularly taken and given the aura of invincibility he created during an illustrious career, it made the tragedy all the more difficult to accept as reality.
His passing resonated with several Dodgers, some of whom were fortunate to meet the five-time champion when he attended a 2018 World Series game at Dodger Stadium.