SACRAMENTO, Calif. — It was an emotional game for the Sacramento Kings as they took on the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time since NBA legend Kobe Bryant's death.
Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas last week, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and 7 others.
Both teams and fans are still reeling over the sudden loss. A memorial of Bryant was installed outside of the Golden 1 Center, and both Lakers and Kings fans came to lay flowers, light candles and sign the wall.
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Kings fans also showed up to the game in Bryant jerseys, retired Lakers #8 and #24, to pay respects to the fallen player.
Inside the Golden 1 Center, the Kings opened their game with a tribute to the late NBA legend and his daughter.
“There’s been a lot of emotional moments watching the tribute videos and all the different segments," Kings head coach Luke Walton said at a conference before the game on Saturday. “Hearing stories from all the different players.”
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Throughout the game, highlights of Bryant’s career played on the jumbotron as fans cheered “Kobe.”
"The basketball world is still coping with this emotional loss," Lakers head coach Frank Vogel said Saturday.
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