Carmelo Anthony, a longtime friend of Kobe Bryant, is to be able to make it to Staples Center with his Portland Trail Blazers teammates as they visit the Los Angeles Lakers for their first game since the tragic death of Bryant, his daughter Gigi, and seven others in a helicopter crash.
The Blazers announced on Thursday afternoon that the 10-time All-Star and two-time Olympic teammate of Bryant is not with the team for personal reasons. Although they have not officially ruled him out for Friday, it’s unlikely that he will play since he didn’t travel with the team, according to The Oregonian’s Jamie Goldberg.
To be clear: The Blazers announced that Carmelo Anthony is not with the team for personal reasons. They didn't officially announce he was out for tomorrow's game, but I reached out to the team, who said that if he didn't travel the assumption is he won't play tomorrow.
— Jamie Goldberg (@Jamiebgoldberg) January 31, 2020
It would be completely understandable if Anthony is unable to be in the building for the first Lakers game since Kobe’s death. Only a few days ago, Anthony shared that Bryant had called him to tell him he would be there to watch him play in the very game that will be played on Friday.
Anthony has played in two games for the Blazers since Bryant’s death, including a game on the day of his passing, which Anthony called the hardest game he’d ever had to play in his career.
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