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Kobe Bryant was a part of the Los Angeles Lakers' roster for 20 years.
The news of basketball icon Kobe Bryant's death on Sunday sent shockwaves across the country, with reactions pouring in on social media. Although NBA games continued as scheduled, athletes and politicians alike honored Bryant 41, who was killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
The Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets game went on as planned on Sunday afternoon, the Nuggets held a moment of silence for Bryant, who spent 20 years as a Los Angeles Laker. It was followed by Nuggets fans chanting Bryant's name at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.
Anthony Leon "P. J." Tucker Jr., who plays for the Rockets, wrote a tribute to Bryant on his shoes, which read, "RIP KB" "Love you KB24."
Meanwhile, former Vice President Joe Biden, who is campaigning in Des Moines ahead of the Iowa caucus, also held a moment of silence for Bryant.
News of Bryant's death prompted audible gasps from rally attendees, according to local reports. Biden said he didn't know Bryant very well, having only met him a few times, but said the news of his untimely death underscored that "you gotta make every day count. Every single solid day, every single day count," videos from the scene show.
- Read more:
- Kobe Bryant, 41, dies in helicopter crash in Calabasas, California
- NBA games will not be canceled after basketball icon Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in California
- Kobe Bryant's daughter Gianna 'Gigi' Bryant also died in the tragic helicopter accident that killed her father, according to reports
- Kobe Bryant's last tweet before he died was to congratulate LeBron James on surpassing him for the NBA all-time scoring list
Moment of silence for Kobe Bryant prior to the the Rockets / Nuggets game.
pic.twitter.com/zouMy3ow67
- Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 26, 2020P.J. Tucker wearing Kobe's today with a written message pic.twitter.com/TkXJE2rDUG
- Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) January 26, 2020Ahead of @JoeBiden's event at Urban Dreams in Des Moines, attendees gasp and observe a moment of silence as the news that @kobebryant has died is announced pic.twitter.com/ZZcxmUYCzF
- Johnny Verhovek (@JTHVerhovek) January 26, 2020.@JoeBiden reacts to the news of @kobebryant's death at a campaign event in Des Moines
"It makes you realize you gotta make every day count." pic.twitter.com/sYVQCSl2kp
- Johnny Verhovek (@JTHVerhovek) January 26, 2020