Kobe Bryant memorial: Live updates and reaction from inside Staples Center

NBA

A memorial service celebrating the lives of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna is underway at Staples Center in downtown L.A. The date — Feb. 24 — reflects the basketball jersey numbers worn by Kobe (No. 24) and Gianna (No. 2).

The service is being held just less than a month after Bryant, 13-year-old Gianna and seven others died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Jan. 26.

More than 20,000 people — friends, family and those who acquired tickets through a lottery (80,000 applied) — crowded into the arena, with ticket proceeds benefiting the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.

A Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant is airing live on ESPN, the ESPN App and ESPN Radio, and you can follow along here as Los Angeles, the Lakers and the NBA world honor the basketball legend.

Live updates from Staples Center

People closest to Kobe Bryant share the stories they’re looking back on ahead of Monday’s memorial. — Ramona Shelburne


The morning after LeBron James passed Kobe Bryant for third in all-time scoring, on the flight home from Philadelphia, the Lakers learned of Bryant’s death. — Dave McMenamin


Kobe had the skill and knowledge to be any kind of player he wanted to be. — Zach Lowe


From his first NBA media day to his phenomenal final game, we reveal the untold stories behind the most legendary images of the Black Mamba.

Latest news and reaction


Remembering Kobe

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1:47

Hip-hop artist and actor Ice Cube reveals that his favorite Kobe Bryant memory comes from seeing Kobe play in person for the first time.

From the archive: ESPN writers on Kobe

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