ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 26: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks hugs John Collins #20 after holding the ball for an eight second violation on the tip-off in memory of Kobe Bryant during the game against the Washington Wizards at State Farm Arena on January 26, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP
NBA players honored the great Kobe Bryant in their own ways following his tragic death in a helicopter crash in California on Sunday.
Teams deliberately took 24-second shot clock and eight-second violations to start the game as a tribute to the former Los Angeles Lakers legend, who wore the No. 8 to begin his NBA career before switching to No. 24 from the 2006-07 season until he retired in 2016.
Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young, one of the brightest young talents in the league, paid homage to his hero by wearing the No. 8 to start the game against the Washington Wizards before reverting back to his original No. 11.
The tributes kept coming as several players around the league decided to honor Bryant through his signature sneakers.
Houston Rockets’ PJ Tucker, who is also known as the NBA’s undisputed sneaker king, wrote “LOVE YOU KB24” on his Kobe 7s.
Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker had “Be Legendary” on his pair of Kobe 4s which were the same words Bryant wrote on the sneakers he gave to him after they played against each other several years ago.
San Antonio Spurs’ DeMar DeRozan and New Orleans Pelicans guards Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart, who also played for the Lakers, also showed their respects to Bryant through their shoes.