Tennessee to honor Kobe Bryant against Texas A&M

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee’s men’s basketball team will honor the late Kobe Bryant during its game tonight against Texas A&M.

The Vols will honor Bryant by wearing purple shoelaces.

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🧡🤍 pic.twitter.com/1scz1N1Ugb

— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) January 28, 2020

The retired NBA star died Sunday in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif.

Bryant was the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played his entire 20-year career and winning five NBA championships.

NBA: Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash — Jan 26, 2020; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Fans gather at L.A. Live in Los Angeles to pay their respects to former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant who died in helicopter crash on Sunday. Mandatory Credit: Sandy Hooper-USA TODAY

Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and the contest will be televised by the SEC Network.

The Vols are currently 12-7 overall on the season and 4-2 in Southeastern Conference play. UT enters tonight’s contest sixth in the SEC standings.