TNT
Despite the devastating passing of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant less than 72 hours ago, the NBA has decided to only cancel one game — the Clippers vs. Lakers — and will be soldiering on with all of the rest matchups as scheduled, regardless of the current agony the league’s players are currently feeling.
And because the league has decided to move forward as planned, that means those who work alongside the game — announcers, analysts, etc. — must continue to work under these difficult conditions.
Ahead of tonight’s Boston Celtics at Miami Heat game, the usual Inside The NBA crew, in addition to Miami Heat legend Dwayne Wade, was on the air live from center court at the Staples Center as they eulogized Bryant, who passed away at the age of just 41-years-old.
“I haven’t felt a pain that sharp in a while.. it definitely changes me.”’@SHAQ on the loss of his brother, Kobe. pic.twitter.com/dM5i0DDgGK
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020
Shaq speaking about Kobe on TNT’s NBA pregame show tonight is nothing short of heartbreaking.https://t.co/FqGwlUkMHJ
— BroBible (@BroBible) January 29, 2020
While Shaq and Kobe’s relationship was largely mended in recent years, Shaq is clearly hurt by the fact that the pair had not spoken since his spellbinding 60-point final game on April 30, 2016.
Bryant, who was just 41-years-old, was killed in a Calabasas, California helicopter crash on Sunday, January 26 along with eight other victims. One of the victims was Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna Marie, as the pair were en route to Bryant’s Mamba Academy for a youth basketball game.
You can find the rest of Inside The NBA‘s predictably emotional and thoughtful tributes to Kobe Bryant below. Mamba Forever.
Kobe was the glue that held LA together.@TurnerSportsEJ reflects on the life & legacy of Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/GhFvZKPWlc
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020
There will never be another Kobe. pic.twitter.com/3vyRrYpP4L
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020
“He was like one of my kids.”
Charles on Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/lWWBl78AAH
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020
“As a young kid, coming into this league, it was one person I wanted the respect from…It was Kobe Bryant.”@DwyaneWade reflects on his experience with Kobe. pic.twitter.com/Z7AHlfkOzp
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020
“The first thing I thought of was him as a family man.” @TheJetOnTNT reflects on Kobe, the father. pic.twitter.com/bB9TTYCePx
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020
NBA on TNT honors the lives lost in Sunday’s tragic accident. pic.twitter.com/esYvHPgAE4
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020
“He always talked about this Mamba mentality. He didn’t have to create that, it was already there.”
Jerry West on Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/sjIed4rBfy
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020
“I truly believe that we will be the most dominant big/little, one-two punch ever.”@SHAQ on his time with Kobe. pic.twitter.com/yEqweQFBdv
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020
"Not this Black Mamba."
The Logo remembers Kobe's unshakable confidence. pic.twitter.com/wo9CSlM5H6
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020
Kobe had big plans from the start. pic.twitter.com/MqFdyPVQnj
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020
“We had no answer for No. 8 and No. 24.”@ReggieMillerTNT on facing the Black Mamba. pic.twitter.com/nT2JuT9zu4
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020
“This is one of the greatest players to ever play and he’s reaching out to me, a younger player.”@DwyaneWade shares one of his favorite memories of Kobe. pic.twitter.com/QnqbOFzXku
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020
The thoughts and prayers of the entire BroBible team out go out to the friends, family, and loved ones of the Bryant family during this extremely difficult time. May Kobe, Gianna, and all of the victims of the crash rest in peace.
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Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isn’t quite sure how he’s allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Follow him on Twitter @eric_ital for movie and soccer takes or contact him eric@brobible.com