KOBE Bryant’s widow will receive some of the basketballs, jerseys, toys and other items left at a massive makeshift memorial for the NBA legend. Vanessa Bryant, who also lost daughter Gianna in last month’s helicopter crash, has requested the mementos be sent to her family. The thousands of items were left outside the Staples Center […]
KOBE Bryant’s widow will receive some of the basketballs, jerseys, toys and other items left at a massive makeshift memorial for the NBA legend.
Vanessa Bryant, who also lost daughter Gianna in last month’s helicopter crash, has requested the mementos be sent to her family.
The thousands of items were left outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where Kobe Bryant starred for the Lakers for two decades.
A total of 1,353 basketballs, 500 stuffed animals, 14 banners and 25,000 candles were left outside the arena, according to Lee Zeidman, the president of the Staples Center.
“Truly amazing the outpouring of love from the City of Angels in honor of the 9 who lost their lives 1/26/20,” Zeidman tweeted this week.
Zeidman had previously said that the tributes “u have left will be delivered to the Bryant family.”
Fans had spontaneously launched the memorial in a plaza outside the arena after the tragic crash, and it kept growing for a week.
Many of the items featured personal messages.
Zeidman tweeted Monday that “cleanup continues and we have filled a full 40 yard roll off trash bin with flowers.
“These will be made into mulch and spread throughout the landscaping around @LALIVE and @STAPLESCenter so that the love all of the fans brought to LA Live lives on.”
Kobe Bryant and 13-year-old daughter Gianna were two of nine people killed in the helicopter crash in California.
Their bodies were released for burial earlier this month.
Vanessa Bryant wrote a moving tribute to her “angels” in a series of Instagram posts.
“There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now,” Vanessa wrote last week.
“I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved.
“We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever.”
Vanessa added that they were “our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon.”
The Lakers paid tribute to Bryant before their game against the Trail Blazers on Friday night.
It was their first game following the tragic helicopter crash.
“So, in the words of Kobe Bryant, ‘Mamba out,’ but in the words of us, ‘not forgotten.’
“Live on brother.”
A fence was built around the memorial site to keep the cleanup out of the view of the public.
Do you have a story for The US Sun team?
Email us at exclusive@the-sun.com or call 212 416 4552.
