The Los Angeles Lakers players have elected not to speak to the media in the wake of Kobe Bryant’s tragic death, along with his daughter Gigi and seven others on Sunday. But the Lakers players are expected to speak to reporters on Friday night after the conclusion of tonight’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, the team’s first game since Sunday’s tragic accident.
But the game itself is expected to be a tribute to Bryant, even though a formal memorial or funeral still is not scheduled or announced yet. According to The Athletic’s Bill Oram, Lakers coach Frank Vogel and the Lakers staff are all going to wear Kobe’s signature shoes to honor his memory.
A few nights ago, the Blazers did the same thing in their game against the Houston Rockets, as every member of their coaching staff wore Kobe’s shoes. It wouldn’t be a shock if they continued that into tonight as L.A. tries to return to basketball that will be far from usual.
