The passing of NBA icon Kobe Bryant on Sunday hit the entire league hard and that includes the Philadelphia 76ers. Bryant had such an influence on an entire generation of basketball players and that includes a few players on the Sixers such as Tobias Harris and others who looked up to Bryant as they went on their NBA journey.
Other teams honored him by committing 24-second and 8-second violations on Sunday when his passing was announced and there will undeniably be a way to honor Bryant on Tuesday when the Sixers get back to work to face the Golden State Warriors.
“It’s all happened so quick and so there is a process that we will go through as a league,” said coach Brett Brown. “We’ll talk about what that looks like tomorrow night pregame. I’m sure there will be things we will talk about as an organization, particularly with the Philadelphia connection.”
It can be more special in this city due to Bryant’s roots. His father, Joe Bryant, played for the Sixers and Kobe, of course, went to Lower Merion High School where he won a title in 1996.
“That was the thing that always came out,” Brown added. “He was really interested in Philadelphia like he really had a side love for Philadelphia no matter how much he put on that Laker uniform, he always talked about the city of Philly. I feel like for that reason, him growing up in Lower Merion, that there’s more to give and more to do appropriately, then say another organization that doesn’t have that historical reference point.”
It is due to that connection with Philadelphia that has general manager Elton Brand and his staff thinking of putting together a special honor for Bryant before the game on Tuesday.
“We’ll try to commemorate him tomorrow and hopefully show how much this area loved him and continue to do so,” said Brand. “It’s a tough time for the area, tough time for the organization, he will surely be missed.”
It will be tough for the Sixers to get back to focusing on basketball, but the maniacal competitor that is Kobe Bryant would want them to play in his honor. Tipoff with Golden State is set for 7:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday. [lawrence-related id=24376,24365,24352]