My friend, a legend, husband, father, son, brother, Oscar winner and greatest Laker of all-time is gone. It’s hard to accept. Kobe was a leader of our game, a mentor to both male and female players.
As I try to write this post, my mind is racing. I’m in disbelief and have been crying all morning over this devastating news that Kobe and his young daughter, Gigi have passed away in a helicopter crash. Cookie and I are heartbroken.
Laker Nation, the game of basketball & our city, will never be the same without Kobe. Cookie & I are praying for Vanessa, his beautiful daughters Natalia, Bianka & Capri, as well as his parents Joe & Pam & his sisters. We will always be here for the Bryant family.
Kobe and I shared so many special conversations about life and basketball. We had so much in common off the court. I used to love talking to him about Lakers basketball, being fathers and husbands and how much we loved Italy. I will miss those conversations and him so much.
Michael Jordan’s Last Dance was fantastic and I loved all two hours of it!! Young fans that never got to see Michael play now understand why he’s the 🐐 of basketball!
The world lost one of the greatest soccer players that ever lived Diego Maradona. It was one of the thrills of my life when I got to meet him. Rest In Peace my friend and my prayers go out to his family. 🙏🏾
Laker Nation, LeBron James made good on his guarantee that he would take the
@Lakers
to the NBA Finals and bring a championship to Lakers fans all around the world. Mission accomplished
@KingJames
!!
David Stern was such a history maker. When I announced in 1991 I had HIV, people thought they could get the virus from shaking my hand. When David allowed me to play in the 1992 All Star Game in Orlando and then play for the Olympic Dream Team, we were able to change the world.
I was so thrilled to be honored at a soccer match in Brazil by Pelé. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would meet him, to be honored by him and spend time with him in his home country was one of the most special moments in my life.
He was such an icon but also did so much for LA. He was passionate about serving the homeless and was an advocate for women's basketball. Coaching his daughter’s basketball team brought him so much happiness.
George Floyd was clearly murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. How many times do we have to see black men killed on national television? This has been going on for entirely too long. We need to start seeing black people as human beings and not animals on the street.
It's really cool that the greatest shooter basketball has ever seen, a friend, future hall of famer, and great person,
@StephenCurry30
won the first ever Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP award!! Congratulations! 🏆
Dwight Howard and AD got into a physical altercation on the bench…in my 42 years of being associated with the Lakers organization, I’ve never seen something like that smh
He gave his knowledge, time, and talent to tutor so many at the youth level, collegiate level, & NBA & WNBA players. Words can’t express the impact that he had on the game of basketball. I know basketball fans all over the world will miss him, especially the City of Los Angeles.
Great job by Owner Jeanie Buss bringing Anthony Davis to the Lakers! Laker Nation, the Lakers are back in a championship hunt! Congratulations to the entire organization. I know LeBron James has a big smile on his face. I’m loving this!!
Wow, never in my lifetime did I think I would see two NBA athletes score over 38,000 points! I still remember when my Showtime teammate, the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, broke the record. It was an honor to be the guy to pass it to him and cement his legacy!
God has really blessed me! Today marks 30 years living with HIV so the message resonated with me in such a tremendous way. I thank the Lord for keeping me, giving me strength, and guiding me for 62 years but especially the last 30. 🙏🏾
I know God is sooooooooo good because now I have a World Series ring, 10 Lakers NBA Championship Rings (5 as a player and 5 as an owner), and a WNBA Championship Ring as owner of the LA Sparks!
On this day, one year later, we want to remember not only Kobe but Gianna Bryant, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, and Ara Zobayan.
While I shared a personal relationship with Kobe and his family, it is not lost on me the other families who woke up today missing their family members. Let us all continue to pray for the lives that were lost and their families in mourning.
I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of the greatest winner the game of basketball has ever seen, a legend, hall of famer, mentor and my friend for over 30 years, Bill Russell. 💔
Rob Pelinka really made me feel good tonight reaching out after the Lakers won the NBA Championship. It means the world to me because I know he’s in the middle of celebrating with all of the Lakers players, coaches, and Jeanie Buss he didn’t have to!
Laker Nation, it's our responsibility to come together and support Russell Westbrook and his family. Threats and attacks on the Westbrook family are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. There's no place in sports for this type of behavior, period.
@russwest44
I used to hate Patrick Beverly when he played against my Lakers lol but now I love him because he's on our team and he's going to help my Lakers get to the playoffs!
Steph Curry is not only one of the greatest shooters we’ve ever seen, he is one of the greatest clutch players the game has ever seen. 33 points in the second half to lead his Warriors over the Houston Rockets...Incredible!
What the USA Men’s Basketball team is missing is a guy who’s won 4 NBA Championships (making him a proven winner), the best leader in the game of basketball, and someone who makes his teammates better…aka LeBron James!
Yesterday, Nov. 7, marked the 28th anniversary of my HIV announcement. I feel so blessed to be here and want to thank everyone for their support, prayers, and well wishes over these years!
Cookie and I are praying for LeBron and Savannah’s son Bronny after hearing he suffered a cardiac arrest. We are praying and hoping he makes a full and speedy recovery 🙏🏾
LA has just become the king of basketball with the Lakers adding AD, Cousins, Danny Green, JaVale McGee, and KCP and Kawhi Leonard and Paul George joining the Clippers. It’s going to be awesome to watch NBA basketball in LA this season!
Congratulations to
@AndreDrummond
for signing with the
@Lakers
and welcome to Los Angeles! Andre is just what the Lakers need; a big man who can score, rebound, and defend.
I am so proud and happy for my sister,
@Lakers
owner
@JeanieBuss
, for winning an NBA Championship!! Your father is so proud of you! Dr. Buss won and now you can say you’ve won an NBA Championship!! 💜💛
He was tech savvy and opened a community center in south central to foster STEM education and provide opportunities for young black children. Nipsey Hussle’s legacy will last forever.
Congratulations to my dear friend, the late great, Kobe Bryant, his wife Vanessa, his daughters Natalia, Gigi, Bianka and Capri, his parents Joe and Pam, and the entire Bryant family on Kobe’s much deserved induction into the NBA Hall of Fame!
Who would have thought my sister and I would win a championship in the same year??
@jeaniebuss
as owner of the
@Lakers
and me as owner of the
@Dodgers
. Her father Dr. Jerry Buss is smiling down from heaven proud of both of us! 💙🤍💜💛
Just watched Jaime Harrison, candidate for US Senate in South Carolina, on The View. He is very intelligent, charismatic, and has a great plan for the people of South Carolina!!
@harrisonjaime
Everyone make sure you get out and vote!
Laker Nation, praying for Laker VP & GM Rob Pelinka; Kobe’s agent for 20 years, best friend, and confidant. He helped Kobe build a massive empire and loved him like family.
LeBron James is definitely the MVP this season. He is almost averaging a triple double with 25 points, 10 assists, and basically 8 rebounds per game. His defense has been amazing and there is no better leader in sports!
I’m all the way in France and I heard my boy Shannon Sharpe was at the Lakers game about to take on the whole Memphis Grizzlies team LOL! 😂
@ShannonSharpe