Thousands of people filled the Staples Center on Monday to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant, and as his wife delivered an emotional eulogy, there couldn't have been a dry eye in the house.
Vanessa Bryant spoke at the public memorial a few weeks after her husband and their 13-year-old daughter Gianna were killed in a helicopter crash, starting off her eulogy by talking about "my baby girl."
"She was one of my very best friends," she said.
Bryant went on to tearfully note all of the milestones in Gianna's life she won't be able to experience, including seeing her learn how to drive a car, get married, or have children, but she said that Gianna "most likely would have become the best player in the WNBA" and would have "made a huge difference for women's basketball."
"She was a beautiful, kind, happy, silly, thoughtful and loving daughter and sister," Bryant said. "She was so full of life and had so much more to offer this world. I cannot imagine life without her."
Bryant then moved on to her late husband, "my soul mate."
"He was my everything," she said. "...He was the most amazing husband. Kobe loved me more than I could ever express or put into words." She concluded by saying of Kobe and Gianna, "God knew they couldn't be on this Earth without each other. He had to bring them home to him together. Babe, you take care of our Gigi."
Among those who also delivered powerful eulogies on Monday were Michael Jordan, who said "when Kobe Bryant died, a piece of me died," and Shaquille O'Neal, who said, "Now, it's time for us to continue your legacy."
