Over the past two weeks, the Golden State Warriors have been on an east coast road trip; in that time, the NBA lost a legend. Kobe Bryant. his daughter Gianna and seven others were in a fatal helicopter crash on January 26.
The Warriors’ last five-games were all played away from the Bay Area since his passing. Following the NBA trade deadline, Golden State returned to their home, the Chase Center in San Francisco.
The first game since their return, the Warriors hosted Bryant’s team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Although time has passed, Golden State paid their respect to the late Lakers’ Most Valuable Player.
Starting with their outdoor arena video board, the Warriors displayed Bryant’s No. 8 and Gianna’s No. 2 basketball jersey as fans arrived at Chase Center.
The outdoor video board located in Golden State’s “Thrive City” in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood also displayed the names of all nine people involved in the tragic helicopter crash.
In the arena, the Warriors gave away black shirts with the Bryant’s jersey numbers of No. 8, No. 24 and No. 2 listed across the chest for those in attendance.
Before the game started, the Warriors played a video tribute to Bryant, featuring the moment he walked off the floor in Oracle Arena for the final time.
The Warriors’ two-time Most Valuable Player, joined in the tribute to Bryant, wearing his No. 24 Lakers jersey during the game along the sideline.
The Warriors will host the Lakers again in late February before traveling to Bryant’s home arena, the Staples Center, on April 9.
