NBA

NBA community pays tribute to Kobe Bryant with 24 and eight-second violations, sneaker messages and a moment of silence

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Yash Matange
and others
• 4 min read
Bradley Beal and Trae Young (wearing #8 for Kobe) as the Wizards hold the ball for a 24-second violation at the beginning of the game.

After news broke of Kobe Bryant's passing in a helicopter crash early on Sunday, the NBA community was in mourning. 

For a majority of the players on current rosters, he was an idol, an inspiration, and a role model. For the rest of the community - the coaching staffs, managements, and former players, he had earned their love and respect for his super-competitive drive and will to win.

MORE: Commissioner Silver on Bryant's passing

Amid the grief, the eight games scheduled rolled on and through basketball, the NBA community came together to pay tribute to the Laker legend that is Bryant. 

MORE: Jordan on Kobe: "like a little brother to me

In the early game at Denver, not long after the news broke, both teams held a moment of silence before tipping-off the game. 

In the forthcoming games, each team committed a 24-second shot clock violation or 8-second (halfcourt) violations in his memory. Bryant wore the number #8 for the first nine years of his career before changing to #24 for the remaining seasons of his career.

In the Raptors-Spurs contest in San Antonio, both teams committed shot clock violations to begin the game.

In Atlanta, after holding a moment of silence before the game, the Hawks and Wizards committed eight and 24 second violations respectively. 

Hawks point guard Trae Young, paying tribute to Bryant, began the game with No. 8 jersey: 

Young was one of Bryant's 13-year-old daughter Gianna's favourite players. She had been to three NBA games this season and two included Young.

Gianna was also on board the helicopter, along with seven other passengers who died in the crash.

In New York, for the Knicks-Nets contest, the Madison Square Garden, considered the "Mecca of Basketball", was illuminated in the colours purple and gold.

After a moment of silence pre-game, both teams committed 24-second violations to begin the game to honour Bryant's memory. 

Later on, during the fourth quarter, 'Kobe Bryant chants broke out at the Garden:

In Orlando, the Clippers wrapped up their Grammy road trip with a heavy heart. Similar to Wizards-Hawks, both teams began with 24 and eight-second violation to begin the game: 

Montrezl Harrell was one of MANY players including Devin Booker, Isaiah Thomas, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Hart on the day that paid tribute and showed love for Bryant and his daughter Gianna through their sneakers:

It wasn't just Ball and Hart. In fact, all of the Pelicans players took the court for the nationial anthem in Kobe's Nike sneakers:

Teams were committing 24 second violations to begin the game in the G-League as well: 

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Yash Matange Photo
Yash Matange

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