Kobe Bryant’s tragic death rocked the NBA and sports world. The Washington Wizards were no exception.
Yesterday, the basketball world was rocked to its core by news of Kobe Bryant‘s tragic death. Bryant, the 41-year-old NBA superstar, died in a helicopter crash. TMZ first reported the news.
Instantly, the NBA, and the whole sporting world, was sent into a spiral of depressed disbelief. Thoughts and prayers poured out from former and current players, teammates and rivals, and U.S. presidents. Even the tennis and soccer worlds paid their respects, as Neymar and Nick Kyrgios paid tribute to the fallen legend.
As the word of the tragedy traveled around, many Wizards — like the rest of us — couldn’t believe it.
https://twitter.com/JohnWall/status/1221523039344525312?s=20
Plz tell me that’s not true
— Jordan McRae (@JordyMac52) January 26, 2020
No way bruh no way no way no way
— Admiral Schofield (@Uncle_Scho) January 26, 2020
The world weeps, the basketball community mourns. Kobe is the GOAT — Beloved and respected by all. Stunned and shaken to our core.
— Ted Leonsis (@TedLeonsis) January 26, 2020
Fans across Twitter called for the NBA to cancel all games as they struggled to process the passing of one of the game’s legends. But games played on, probably as Kobe would have wanted. Even without time for preparation, teams impressed with their heartfelt tributes to the Black Mamba.
The Washington Wizards were one of the teams that had to play yesterday, but that didn’t stop them from memorializing Bryant. In line with the rest of the league, the Hawks and Wizards traded eight- and 24-second violations to start the game.
However, players, some finding out just moments before taking the floor, were obviously affected. And their disbelief hadn’t worn off by game time. Bradley Beal and Trae Young could hardly control their emotions before tipoff.
The Hawks and @washwizards took 8 second and 24 second violations to honor Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/ty7rZgyjFn
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 26, 2020
Young even took his tribute a step further and wore Kobe’s number 8 for the first possession of the game.
Throughout the Wizards’ 152-133 loss to the Hawks, there was an ominous and unsettling feeling to the game. Obviously, something bigger than basketball was happening outside the walls of the arena. But in a weird way, playing through the pain felt so Kobe. Just put on the blinders and play. The Mamba Mentality.
However, nobody would have blamed these guys if they chose to sit yesterday out. And some, including Bradley Beal’s fiancée, thought playing through the pain wasn’t the best choice.
It’s beyond hurtful and unfair to the players who are being forced to go out and play after receiving such devastating news. These games should have been cancelled.
— Kamiah Adams-Beal (@KamiahAdams) January 27, 2020
After the game, players got the chance to talk about what Kobe and his legacy meant to them as men and as basketball players.
"He was our Jordan."@RealDealBeal23 on Kobe Bryant's legacy and impact on the game of basketball. pic.twitter.com/TssgEUJNsx
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) January 27, 2020
"It's something that's undeniable, how great of a person and player he was." @Troy_Brown33 on the lessons he learned and motivation he gained from Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/Y7pIxKEzwb
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) January 27, 2020
"He meant everything to me, I started basketball because of Kobe Bryant.”@isaiahthomas on Kobe Bryant's mentorship, friendship, and impact. pic.twitter.com/WYKlSPpXQn
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) January 27, 2020
Kobe Bryant will go into the Naismith Hall of Fame as a part of the 2020 class, one of the league’s most storied Hall of Fame classes. And no name on that list, alive or dead, will be bigger than Kobe Bryant. For years, Bryant wasn’t just the face of the Los Angeles Lakers, he was the face of the NBA. Love him or hate him, the NBA was better because of Kobe.
The league lost a legend. RIP Kobe.