Yesterday afternoon, the New Orleans Pelicans were tasked with playing a basketball game just a few hours following the sudden death of Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven other passengers of his helicopter flight to the Mamba Sports Academy.
While the team played host to and defeated the Boston Celtics by a 123-106 margin, minds were clearly elsewhere as the stadium continually cheered “Kobe, Kobe” in honor of the 41-year-old legend.
Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act.