Kobe Bryant has been honored in a multitude of ways since his death on Jan. 26, and the former NBA star’s jersey number of 24 has now been retired at a basketball stadium in Italy where his father used to play.
Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 jersey was retired at an Italian basketball stadium where his father used to play. https://t.co/elIS0bkudp pic.twitter.com/8jJCsO4LUF
— ABC News (@ABC) February 7, 2020
Bryant’s father, Joe Bryant, played in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers for four seasons. He then played for the San Diego Clippers and the Houston Rockets before heading to Europe, playing seven seasons in Italy with multiple Italian clubs. ESPN reports that the first Italian team Joe played for retired Kobe’s jersey in a pre-game ceremony on Wednesday.
Videos by PopCulture.com
A video shows the jersey being lifted into the rafters of the arena before the crowd, holding yellow signs, begins to shout Kobe’s name. “You began to play here and as an adult you made us dream. Our colors are with you in the sky,” read a banner that fans were holding.
The jersey was retired at the PalaSojourner arena, where NPC Rieti plays. The ceremony was held before the team’s game against Scafati in Italy’s second division.
Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna, who died with her father and seven others in a helicopter crash last month, had her own jersey retired this week. On Wednesday, Gianna’s school, Harbor Day School in Newport Beach, California, held a ceremony to retire the teen’s No. 2 jersey, both students and staff sharing their memories of Gianna. Gianna’s mom, Vanessa Bryant, shared photos and several videos from the ceremony on Instagram along with a message to her daughter.
“My Gigi. I love you! I miss you,” she wrote. “You’ve taught us all that no act of kindness is ever too small. Mommy is still and will ALWAYS be so proud of you mamacita.”
View this post on Instagram
On Feb. 24, Bryant and Gianna will be honored with a public memorial at Staples Center in Los Angeles, where Bryant played for much of his 20-season career with the Lakers. The date is significant for the family as it combines Bryant’s jersey number, 24, Gianna’s jersey number, 2, and 20, the number of years Bryant spent as a Los Angeles Laker.
Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty
Most Viewed
-
(Credit: Rafa Jodar / Getty Images) -
TV talk show with female celebrity flat vector illustration. Woman sitting on sofa and talking with host, discussing news in studio. Videographers filming broadcasting. Television, interview concept -
A ring of vibrant marigold flowers with glowing candles at the center, set against a dark background. (Credit: Eduardo Monroy Husillos / Getty Images) -
NEW YORK CITY – DECEMBER 19: "Toil and Trouble" – Elsbeth is thrown into the world of television after the showrunner of a long-running police procedural is brutally murdered in his office, and although it appears to be the act of a disgruntled fan, she begins to suspect the show's longtime star Regina Coburn (Laurie Metcalf) who yearns for artistic fulfillment. Meanwhile, Judge Crawford (Michael Emerson) continues to be a thorn in Elsbeth's side, on the CBS original series ELSBETH, Thursday, Dec. 19 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs). Pictured (L-R): Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni and Carra Patterson as Kaya Blanke. (Photo by Michael Parmelee/CBS via Getty Images) -
Netflix logo is displayed during the 'Paris Games Week' on November 02, 2017 in Paris, France. (Credit: Chesnot / Getty Images) -
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 13: (L-R) Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom attend the 10th Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on April 13, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Breakthrough Prize) -
Official promotional image for the Grammy Awards
