The younger generation of NBA players grew up watching Kobe Bryant’s legendary career with the Lakers. And those young players are often quick to name Kobe as a player they idolized.
That’s certainly the case with Hawks All-Star point guard Trae Young.
As the NBA world offered their condolences to Bryant’s family after a deadly helicopter crash killed the Lakers legend, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others, many teams took their tributes to Sunday’s NBA games. The Raptors, Spurs, Clippers, Magic, Pelicans and Celtics all took 24-second violations to honor Bryant (he wore No. 24 in the latter part of his career).
The Hawks star, though, had his own tribute for Kobe.
Trae Young began tonight's game against the Wizards wearing a No. 8 jersey, a tribute to his late idol Kobe Bryant 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ZrqE9fiWZr
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 26, 2020
Ahead of the Hawks’ game against the Wizards, Young waited until the last possible moment to take off his warmup jacket. Once Young removed the jacket, it was revealed that he was going to wear No. 8 for the game. Kobe started his NBA career wearing No. 8, and Young normally wears No. 11 with Atlanta.
The tribute carried over into the game. Upon receiving the tipoff, Young took an eight-second violation to honor Bryant.
The Hawks opened their game with an 8-second backcourt violation, followed by the Wizards taking a 24-second shot clock violation to honor the two numbers Kobe Bryant wore during his NBA career.
(via @HawksOnFSSE)pic.twitter.com/uyflMtP0s9
— The Association on FOX (@TheAssociation) January 26, 2020
Trying to hold back the emotion, the Wizards players offered their respects to Young for the gesture. It was tastefully done from the Hawks star. The Wizards responded by taking a 24-second violation as a tribute to Kobe.
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