CHICAGO _ The first time Zach LaVine scored more than 20 points in an NBA game came at the Staples Center, where as a rookie with the Timberwolves he scored 28 off the bench in a 120-119 victory against the Lakers.
Kobe Bryant began guarding him during the fourth quarter that night and at one point while the two stood at the free throw line, LaVine recalled how Bryant tapped him on the backside and told him "keep it going."
It was a memorable interaction for LaVine with a player he grew up admiring and modeling his game after and one that jumped painfully to the front of his mind after Bryant died in a helicopter crash that killed eight others Sunday, including Bryant's 13-year old daughter Gianna.
"I used to idolize Kobe," LaVine said at Bulls shootaround on Monday morning. "He was my favorite player growing up. He's one of the reasons why I wear No. 8."
The tragic news of Bryant's death at 41 rocked the NBA and extended beyond the basketball community, the ripple effects of which still were being felt Monday morning.
A row of cars lined outside the United Center hours before a game between the Bulls and Spurs, with fans stopping to take photos of the arena lit up in purple and gold with images of Bryant displayed. Fans wrote messages in chalk on the sidewalk outside the arena.
The Bulls plan to honor Bryant before tip-off against the Spurs and the players spent the morning discussing ways to pay tribute, including plans to take a 24-second shot clock violation at the start of the game.
"Just for what he meant to the game, what he means to us as players," forward Thaddeus Young said. "What he meant to our brotherhood as the NBA, it's devastating. Just to see him go at a young age and to know that he was doing a lot of good after basketball, helping guys continue to pave the way and continue to move this game forward."
Young has been wearing Bryant's shoes all season, but wore a special pair for Monday's shootaround and game _ a purple pair of Kobe 4's released after Bryant was named Finals MVP. Bulls assistant coach Roy Rogers was drafted in 1996, nine spots after Bryant was selected 13th. Forward Chandler Hutchison grew up in Orange County during the height of Bryant's career.
Bulls coach Jim Boylen fought back tears as he considered his two daughters, whom he plays basketball with in the driveway, takes to practices and travel basketball games.
"These things hit your team and the league on different levels," Boylen said. "There's the rookie out of high school breaking into the starting lineup, one of the hardest workers ever and becoming an All-Star and a champion and a Hall of Fame player. And then there's the second half of your life where you earn the respect of the basketball community and you're a husband and a father and a mentor for the rest of the league. Difficult day."
Both LaVine and Young were on the floor for one of Bryant's most memorable accomplishments when he moved ahead of Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list in December 2014.
"I was actually the one that fouled him to give him his points to pass Jordan," LaVine said. "So, when he was on the free throw line I went up and congratulated him, so I had some moments. I talked to him in the game. I didn't know him on a personal note, but from afar as somebody that just grew up watching him, idolizing him like so many other people did, it was just such a joy."
