Basketball icon Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were remembered at an emotional public tribute Monday, as thousands of mourners gathered at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, an organization that "exists to further Kobe and Gianna Bryant's legacy through charitable endeavors in sports," according to its website.
Read the latest updates:
- Here's how to watch the memorial service: The event will stream replay in its entirety on NBC News NOW at 8 p.m. ET.
- Vanessa Bryant fought back tears as she paid loving tribute to her late husband, Kobe, and her 13-year-old daughter, Gianna
- Beyoncé drew huge applause when she opened the service with her hit "XO," which she said was one of Kobe's favorite songs.
- Several fellow Lakers legends were in attendance, including Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson and former coach Phil Jackson.
- Feb. 24, 2020, holds special significance for the Bryant family. It represents the jerseys of both Kobe and Gianna, as well as the number of years Kobe and Vanessa were together.
Memorial service to be replayed on NBC News NOW
Starting with Beyoncé singing "XO," one of Kobe's favorite songs, and ending with a replay of his Oscar-winning short, "Dear Basketball," the Kobe and Gianna tribute was chock-full of moving moments and reminders of his enduring legacy.
If you couldn't watch the memorial service live, the tribute will be replayed starting at 8 p.m. ET via NBC News NOW.
Husband and wife hold back tears leaving Staples Center
LOS ANGELES — William and Karen Urgía were blinking back tears as they stepped outside the Staples Center.
They were both especially moved by Michael Jordan’s speech — neither knew the two NBA greats had been so close.
“It really makes you think,” William said.
“The whole service was so moving,” Karen added. “We couldn’t miss it.”
Tears and hugs as the memorial comes to a close
A sea of black, purple and yellow streamed out of the Staples Center after Jimmy Kimmel, visibly emotional and fighting back tears, closed out the memorial with another tribute to Kobe, Gianna and the other lives lost in last month's helicopter crash. Kimmel introduced a final clip reel showing some of Kobe's most remarkable feats of athleticism.
People sobbed and hugged one another while exiting into downtown L.A., as moments of quiet were interrupted by cheers for the legend everyone was there to grieve and celebrate.
Kobe wasn't just an athletic superstar. He was a budding filmmaker.
In addition to dominating professional basketball and inspiring millions with his athletic prowess, Kobe was a budding filmmaking talent with an interest in visual storytelling and animation.
"Of course, because he is Kobe Bryant, the first movie he made won an Oscar," Jimmy Kimmel said before introducing "Dear Basketball," a 2017 animated short written and narrated by Kobe.
"Dear Basketball," with a stirring score by "Star Wars" composer John Williams, triumphed at the 90th Academy Awards in March 2018 — making Kobe the first pro athlete to win an Oscar.
Christina Aguilera sings 'Ave Maria'
Christina Aguilera sang a powerful and somber rendition of "Ave Maria" in Italian to honor Kobe, Gianna, and seven other victims of the helicopter crash.
Her performance was accompanied by musicians playing stringed instruments, and while the singer did not give a speech, she did blow a kiss to the crowd at the end of the song.
Shaq gets big laugh with a fondly remembered expletive
Shaq told the crowd that he once tried to talk to Kobe about hogging the ball.
"There's no 'I' in 'team,'" he remembered telling Kobe.
"I know," Kobe replied, per Shaq. "But there's an M-E in that motherf-----."
The audience went wild.
Kobe and Shaq: A brotherhood that ended in love but had its rocky points
Shaquille O'Neal delivered an emotional tribute to Kobe, putting a final loving touch on their relationship that had its share of ups and downs.
They both joined the Lakers in 1996, Shaq already an established superstar and Kobe an 18-year-old rookie. They became one of their sport’s most dynamic duos, leading Los Angeles to three consecutive world titles between 2000 and 2002.
But their eight-year pairing was a rocky one, with both stars needing the ball and maximum credit for the Lakers’ success.
Two brothers reflect on their 'superman'
Like so many young Angelenos, brothers Miguel and Ronald Alfaro can’t remember the Lakers before Kobe.
Miguel, 24, said his earliest memory was watching a game when he was 5 years old. Those games were always on at home, more so than even the Dodgers, he said.
“Kobe was Superman, you know? Superman isn’t supposed to die,” Ronald, 22, said.
The two could barely hold back tears as they recalled their favorite moments.
Miguel still remembers a game in ‘06 or ‘07 when the Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns. “I don’t know what he did to me, but he touched me in a certain way. I feel like I lost a family member,” he said.
