All the players across the NBA have been hit hard by the death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna, and those with them on the helicopter that crashed in Los Angeles County on Sunday.
Everyone has handled Bryant’s passing differently. For those who knew him well, like Kyrie Irving, this has been a particularly difficult time.
The Nets point guard returned to the court on Wednesday after he missed Sunday’s game followed the news of Bryant’s passing. After Brooklyn’s 125-115 win, Irving spoke about his mentor publicly for the first time since his passing with ESPN’s Cassidy Hubarth:
It’s just hard to even conjure up the words. You try to find [a] clear cut message that you would send to Gigi and Kobe and everybody that lost their lives in such a tragedy like that, it’s hard you know. It’s hard. … I’ve been trying to do this the last few days, just trying to getting ready for a moment like this. But I just gotta let it be, let it flow. I know he’s there watching, as well as Gigi, as well as the young ballplayers that were on the plane, as well. I was just with them at the Mamba Academy working out with them in the summertime, as well. Those young girls losing their lives. So. it’s heartbreaking for all of us. But I’m not the only one dealing with something. I think the most beautiful thing is that it’s connecting all of us. And his seeds that he’s planted in all of us will continue to grow. his legacy is gonna live on forever, obviously. But, that man was a philosopher. He was a teacher. He left so many great things here for us to follow, and I’m just gonna continue to carry the torch.
Kyrie Irving gives emotional postgame interview on Kobe Bryant's influence: pic.twitter.com/5HTw6jWG6A
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Irving scored 20 points against the Pistons on 7-for-16 shooting. He also had five rebounds and five assists.
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