There will be no derby between the Lakers and the Clippers on Tuesday. The Staples Center game was postponed by the NBA following the death of Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash Sunday, January 26, northwest of Los Angeles.
"The decision was made out of respect for the Lakers, deeply grieved by the tragic loss of club legend Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash on Sunday," said the NBA in its short statement. . This regular season meeting will be scheduled at a later date, said the body without specifying the date.
VIDEO. Los Angeles pays tribute to Kobe Bryant
LeBron James floored by Bryant's death
Lakers star, five-time NBA winner, Kobe Bryant has made history in the club. His two flocked jerseys of 8 and 24 are also hung on the ceiling of the Staples Center.
“The Los Angeles Lakers would like to thank you all for the tremendous wave of support and condolence. It is a very difficult time for all of us. We continue to support the Bryant family and will share more information as it becomes available, "said the Californian club in a separate statement.
As for his current star, LeBron James, he said in an Instagram post: "I'm not ready, but I'm going. Dude, I'm sitting there trying to write something, but every time I try I start crying just thinking of you, your daughter Gigi and the friendship, bond, brotherhood that united us ! ". Sunday afternoon, images showed him in tears on the tarmac at Los Angeles airport, where his team had just landed from Philadelphia.
Damn let lebron cry and grieve the loss of his friend Kobe in peace pic.twitter.com/GQWsWi2Bug
- MB (@babyitsmb) January 27, 2020Clippers coach Doc Rivers struggled to hold back tears at a press conference, “I don't have much to say. The news of (Bryant's) death is just devastating to everyone who knew him. He was everything we loved in sports. He had this DNA that very few athletes can have, the Tiger Woods, the Michael Jordan, "he said before adding:" Right now, everyone is a fan of the Lakers. We are all Lakers right now. ”
