And if I'm going to learn that, I gotta learn from the best. I'm going to do what I always do: I'm going to break it down to its smallest form, smallest detail, and go after it. Its not about my jerseys that are hanging up there for me. Kids go to school to be doctors or lawyers, so forth and so on and that's where they study. Lakers teammates Lamar Odom and Kobe Bryant share a light moment before the start of a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010, at Staples Center. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Want to play Division I? ", 3. The Zen Master, Phil Jackson wasnt your typical NBA coach. -Kobe Bryant Nothing spells work ethic quite like Kobe Bryant. ", 5. Born in Philadelphia, Kobe Bryant is the youngest of three offspring of former . In addition to being a Los Angeles Laker, Bryant was an author, entrepreneur, coachand, of course, a loving father-slash-"girl dad." The NBA legend, known as "The Black Mamba," died in a helicopter crash along with his. The NBA baller is survived by wife Vanessa Bryant, and three children:Natalia Diamante, Bianka Bella, and Capri Kobe, who was born in 2019. "Its hard for me to grasp the concept of somebody being nervous when Im talking to them. The bodies of Kobe Bryant and three others were identified through fingerprints on January 28, and the five other bodies were identified on January 30 after DNA testing and analysis. For instance, Bryant never experienced a global pandemic caused by COVID-19. The crash had eight more casualties which included Kobes 13-year old daughter Gianna Bryant. You shot that shot hundreds and thousands of times. A 2022 graduate of Chapman University, Evans worked as the sports and managing editor of the campus newspaper before beginning freelance work with The Times. However, even in the presence of such great coaches, Phil Jackson stands out. ", 4. We get to the three-point line, right wing, and he looked back at me [and] he said, Hello, the afterlife aint what people make it up to be. You don't deny it, but you also don't capitulate to it. I have four girls, so my mission is to make sure women have opportunities. Sports has been a huge part of Nithin's life ever since he was 10 years old. Kobe Bryant's Mamba Academy dream lives on as last protg joins teammates at Sage Hill Amalia Holguin of Sage Hill School is a freshman point guard playing varsity basketball who played for. I Had a Dream About Spanking Kobe Bryant: Phil Jackson Once Dreamt of Spanking Black Mamba Amid Lakers Losing Streak, Kobe Bryant Once Lost $40,000 for a No-Show at a Charity Event During the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend, Kobe Bryant had a Tattoo Appointment, Which was Scheduled for 2 Weeks After his Fatal Crash. Just no way possible. Regarded as one of the best American basketball players of all time, Kobe Bryant played a decisive role in Team USA's Olympic triumphs of 2008 and 2012. Your box is different than mine. You will be angry and wish for the day back, the game back, that play back. He could see himself outworking everyone else and see it leading him to the same success. That these championships do come and go. That journey continues. But Holguin fit right in with the older girls, and stuck. His talents controlled the game so much that high schools from all over the Philadelphia area watched him grow up. He was becoming a man of the world as a young guy, Colangelo said in a recent telephone interview from his home in Phoenix. ", 46. Just hours before Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash on Sunday, a new basketball hall had opened in the Philippines, named in his honour. Sage Hill freshman point guard Amalia Holguin drives to the hoop during a game against Laguna Hills on Tuesday. ", 37. . Although, only a few have reached Hall of Fame status. Shes a fighter, Walters said. "A lot of leaders fail because they dont have the bravery to touch that nerve or strike that chord. But you can mold it. The discipline, the commitment, the team, the community. Even though youre young, Im going to put you in there. You have to keep going. You guys will always be in my heart. But far beyond his longevity and the production he crammed into a 20-year career, Bryant will be remembered for the moments he created. Sit back and watch and listen and hear all the hate thats being thrown at us and remember every person thats kicking you when youre down, because next year it aint gonna be this way. And when were raising our daughters one of the things we choose to do is you just got to try your best and you just got to give it your all. Saw a special mentality. "I dont want chumps, I dont want pushovers, and if youre a chump and a pushover, I will run over you. The former Mambas are the programs core, feeling complete with Holguin. You have lived with Mamba Mentality. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google. Thats never going to change. Luckily, as we all know hard times are something that the Black Mamba is used to getting over. "Mamba mentality" he elaborated on in an Amazon Book Interview, "is all about focusing on the process and trusting in the hard work when it matters most. Trying to carry the torch for the ones they lost. "I saw you come in and I wanted you to know that it doesnt matter how hard you work, that Im willing to work harder than you. "We psych ourselves up too much. Bryants desire to be the teams driving force became clear to Colangelo at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas, where he scouted a couple of tournament games from the stands with Bryant. Holguin started with gum in the sixth grade; didnt like mouthpieces but had to be chewing something. "These young guys are playing checkers. Jeanie Buss said Kobe also appeared in her dreams which makes her feel better. "When I have the chance to guard Michael Jordan, I want to guard him. As parents youve have to lead by example. Kevin Durant had mentioned the Celtic legend on his most recent episode of the ETCs, a podcast that he hosts on The. That gets you to that. ", Related:MVP of Life! ", 54. 55 of Drakes Best Quotes and Lyrics, 41. But too much is a matter of perspective. The numbers don't lie, and they spell disaster for Kobe Bryant.A True Shooting Percentage of 44.4 percent. There arent different degrees of losing. ", 23. Be mad. All rights reserved. Celtics star reveals message sent to Kobe Bryant before playoffs, Vanessa Bryant announces new partnership honoring Kobe and Gianna Bryant, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Lamar Odom has opened up about his "brother" and late Lakers teammate, Kobe Bryant, telling sports commentator Shannon Sharpe that the spirit of the NBA icon has visited him in his dreams on at. Hall of Famer, Phil Jackson is well remembered for the 11 NBA Championships he won as coach of the Chicago Bulls and the LA Lakers. His jersey-tugging celebration after he hit a game-winning jumper against the Suns in 2006. Her father, Jerry Buss, was the team governor. "Those times when you get up early and you work hard," Bryant said during the . Pain is the little voice in your head that tries to hold you back because it knows if you continue you will change. These 70Kobe Bryant quotesdisplay his skills with language, as well as the drive, motivation and grit that cemented him as an icon. Target Tampered with my Online Order ForGroceries https://youtu.be/evSuOrqimeEhttps://www.paypal.me/rescueandrea Hello My Name is Andrea Jones. Kobe's Dream Quotes: The beauty in being blessed with a dream is that anything is possible. Kobe Bryants lessons still echo in her head. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. "There's a big misconception where people thinking winning or success comes from everybody putting their arms around each other and singing kumbaya and patting them on the back when they mess up, and that's just not reality. She was the young one then and still is, now tasked with running the show for a Sage Hill team hoping to compete with top dogs Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, Etiwanda and Mater Dei in the Open Division. ", 59. Mistakes will happen. Kobe Bryant, in full Kobe Bean Bryant, (born August 23, 1978, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.died January 26, 2020, Calabasas, California), American professional basketball player, who helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to five championships (2000-02 and 2009-10). They rolled through to the gold medal with an 8-0 record, scoring 115.5 points per game. There's a compelling story to be told about mindset and dreaming based on an interview Kobe shared with Dave Belasco and his students at the USC Performance Science Institute ", 12. I'm very appreciative of what I've had. ", 53. 2. 6:06 AM EST, Mon February 3, 2020, paid tribute to Kobe Bryant during the teams first game. A Usage Rate of 28.2 percent. ", 14. LOS ANGELES (AP) - The family of the late Kobe Bryant has agreed to a $28.5 million settlement with Los Angeles County to resolve the remaining claims in . Kobe Bryant. "Haters are a good problem to have. Bryant, an 18-time All-Star, retired from professional basketball in 2016, leaving a void in the team. Didnt want to stop just couldnt continue. "Friends can come and go, but banners hang forever. ", 16. ", JAYSON TATUM:Celtics star reveals message sent to Kobe Bryant before playoffs, NIKE:Vanessa Bryant announces new partnership honoring Kobe and Gianna Bryant, Follow every game: Latest NBA Scores and Schedules, Embedded content: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce1e3YkuGIg/?hl=en. Im destroying everybody that steps on the court. Scream. "I never looked at [basketball] as work. You have to dance beautifully in the box that youre comfortable dancing in. And so he invited her to the next days practice. Nobody hates the good ones. It was straight and narrow. It was a best-seller at the time. He had this self-confidence, Colangelo said. The closet door was one of those types of closet doors that slide and fold and come off the hinges extremely easily and so we hide in there and for some reason we knew kobe bryant got inside our house then the dream skipped a little and he slide open the closet door aggressively he had a little bit of blood on his face but the most noticeable "May you always remember to enjoy the road, especially when its a hard one. Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton were two of nine victims, along with Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, on board the helicopter that crashed on Sunday . It will not process failure. And being married to my wife, Vanessa, is, its fun. When he was on stage accepting the Icon. Sulk. They can be fierce. I just want to chill.' Bryant is set to play his final NBA game on Wednesday. These 50 Inspirational Michael Jordan Quotes Prove Hes the GOAT, 31. "People say bad things about you in the paper on Monday, and then on Wednesday, you're the greatest thing since sliced bread. Filippo Monteforte/Agence France-Presse Getty Images. For me, that was rebounding, running the floor, and blocking shots. Please someone with insight tell me what this means. If you are going to be a leader, you are not going to please everybody. By the time Bryant was an 18-year-old NBA rookie, game film had become a significant part of his routine, in part because he recognized he would not overpower anyone with his slender frame. Kobe Bryant left us far too soon, but he also left an indelible mark on basketball, culture and the world. But the coach has watched Holguin from a distance since she was in the fifth grade, taking on older Mambas in practice. "I want to learn how to become the best basketball player in the world. Always eloquent, insightful and inspirational, we will never forget the legacy of one of our game's greatest.the Black Mamba. ', Odom went on, I didnt know how to take that. He had the opportunity to go to the NBA and play against the greatest players in the world. I don't want to understand you. ", Related:62 Bruce Lee Quotes to Inspire You to Kick Butt, Maximize Your Potential and Be Like Water, 51. How often does someone have an objective, a goal, and have it perfectly executed? Colangelo asked. Inspirational. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I didn't realize it was work until my first year in the NBA. Anyone can read what you share. "Trust me, setting things up right from the beginning will avoid a ton of tears and heartache. We want to hear from you! "Theres been a lot of talk of me being a one-man show but thats simply not the case. Natalia's love of volleyball began in 2012. "I was . ", 66. Kobe Bryant, left, paced younger stars like Dwyane Wade, right, by showing up early for practice and playing aggressively. Press J to jump to the feed. Vanessa Bryant and theirthee daughters -- Natalia, 19, Bianka, 5, and Capri, 2 -- were on hand with city officials on Tuesday to unveil a newcourt atthe Tustin Recreational PlaygroundinPhiladelphias Overbrook neighborhood, where Vanessa Bryantsaid her "husbands love for basketball all began. S ince Kobe Bryant died along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven othersin a helicopter crash three years ago today, I've heard from friends . LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks at Staples Center on November 17 . Not even when they have their own children. . I love her tremendously. Our daughters will grow up understanding that they can be strong, they can be independent. But Im still having fun. A post shared by Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) on Aug 10, 2019 at 10:32pm PDT "Gigi had so much of her dad's skill set. However, The Zen Master didnt get his nickname through his use of conventional training methods. The NBA legend, known as "The Black Mamba," died in a helicopter crash along with his daughter GiannaBryant on Jan. 26, 2020. Odom believes that the late NBA icon gave him a message about the afterlife. [Kobe] gave me that confidence, Holguin said. Regardless what you think about him, Kobe Bryant was a kid with a dream who made his dream a reality. We win games when I score 40 points and weve won when I score 10. In 2011, Bryant made an apology for using a gay slur to describe a referee and paid a $100,000 fine imposed by the NBA. draft. E Kobe Bryant, born in 1978, first started turning heads on the basketball court when he was in middle school. When Kobe died I got chocked up and was sad for a bit. This is what it was like when he was around. "I want to see if I can. You have to keep moving. "Use your success, wealth, and influence to put them in the best position to realize their own dreams and find their true purpose. Like if you try to talk yourself into, Oh, this is a big moment, this is a big shot, youre putting a lot of pressure on yourself. He come to me in dreams, too. He even had some interesting dreams, which included one of his biggest superstars, Kobe Bryant, Also Read: Kobe Bryant Once Lost $40,000 for a No-Show at a Charity Event During the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend. So inside my dream me my sister and my brother where inside of a house in a gated community on the 3rd floor in the house there was a glass roof and the entire room had glass windows all around it was like a glass room at the top of the house. "You guys know how I am. When I came around, I was surrounded by other professionals and I thought basketball was going to be everything to them, and it wasn't. The court is surrounded by several murals of Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant, including a special quote from the NBA Hall of Famer: "Dedication makes dreams come true.". I love storytelling. Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart . "The most important thing is you must put everybody on notice that youre here and you are for real. I just love spending time with my family and just being a husband, being a father, being a goofball, just having a good time with my kids. These were middle-school girls doing three-a-day workouts for a weekend: starting in the morning at 6, then moving to yoga and weight training. He said something to me and Im not gone ever, ever forget. and yes this happen after he died. Kobe Bean Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Going back to Mozart, he responded to critics by saying there were neither too many notes or too few. And I was like, 'This is different.' He knew he was good really good. No excuses. appreciated. ", 22. He played with me and a. Colangelo saw it all and even found an opportunity to nurture his relationship with Bryant through their association with U.S.A. Basketball, which culminated in a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. ", 25. ", 7. Do you love the process? Those times when you get up early and you work hard. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The settlem And Bryants decision to bet on her gave her fearlessness, her father said. 2023 Vibe Media, LLC. Kobe Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2016, winning five NBA championships and the 2008 Most Valuable Player award. "Everything Negative pressure, CHALLENGES is all an opportunity for me to RISE" Kobe Bryant (This post does not come without massive grief, emotions, heartache, and tears.) ", 19. Bryant went on to spend the bulk of his career torching the Suns and the rest of the league. I never really watched basket ball and only knew about him through pop culture reference and etc. According to author Ryan Holiday, "The perfect spouse is the best life hack no one told you about." Being married young, Kobe was different from several of his teammates (Steph Curry is the same way). Amalia Holguin has her gum. Vanessa Bryant, the widow of Kobe Bryant, leaves a federal courthouse in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. Everybody has their own. Collapsed into tears. Kobe Bryant is generally considered one of the greatest athletes in the world not just because of his talent, but his incredible mindset and work ethic. I couldnt even dream of this when I was a kid. The 61 points he scored against the Knicks in 2009. The trade prompted many to claim that Kobe Bryant, who had been instrumental in seeing the trade go through, would never win a ring without Shaq. ", Related:Look Back at Vanessa and Kobe Bryant's Love Story, 11. And to spend 20 years here, I mean you cant, you cant write something better than this. I a Single Bl. The two free throws he sank on a freshly torn Achilles tendon in 2013. "Through basketball, I learned discipline, perseverance, teamwork, failure, success. Kobe Bryant's legacy lives on in the year since the basketball icon's untimely death . Jerry Colangelo, who owned the team at the time, already knew a great deal about Bryant, who had. ", 67. His mission is not done yet? Theres no gray area. For the darker shower thoughts. You have to hold people accountable. Ive had a couple of dreams about Kobe, too, and its like, those make me feel like hes OK, she said. For Colangelo, it was a window into greatness. Bryant's birthday is Aug. 23, and he wore the number 24, explained Orange County Board Chairwoman Michelle Steel as. "The last time I was intimidated was when I was six years old in karate class. What Ive learned is to always keep going. Shes young, Walters said, and growing. "Take it all in. Kobe Bryant And 13-Year Daughter Gianna Memorialized In Private Funeral Ahead of Public Celebration . Kobe and Gianna Bryant were killed along with seven others when their helicopter crashed on January 26, 2020 Bryant's widow Vanessa successfully sued Los Angeles County, accepting a settlement . Keeps it fresh, Holguin said, grinning. To now be a part of that wall, you know, means everything to me. Youve got to push it. "If you do not believe in yourself no one will do it for you. Press J to jump to the feed. Bryant reportedly nicknamed himself the "Black Mamba," inspired by Quentin Tarantino's 2003 film, Kill Bill, in which the mamba snake was code for a deadly assassin. Palos Verdes Peninsula and Orange County viewers can watch on Cox Systems on channel 99. And she came to Sage Hill, in part, because she was the last piece of an old puzzle scattered by tragedy: Bryants plan for an elite group of girls to play together through high school. I looked at it this way: you were either in my way or out of it. "I got one more than Shaq. The crash had eight more casualties which included Kobe's 13-year old daughter Gianna Bryant. ", 15. How important that is for me.. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Listen and learn from the words of a man who chased his dream.#KobeDay #RIPKobe This is the home of NBA Europe on YouTube and the only place for all the best features, interviews, access, event coverage and more for NBA fans across the continent.Follow us on:Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nbaeurope/TwitterES - https://twitter.com/NBAspainFR - https://twitter.com/NBAFRANCEDE - https://twitter.com/NBA_deUK - https://twitter.com/NBAUKIT - https://twitter.com/NBAItaliaTU - https://twitter.com/NBATurkiyeFacebookES - https://www.facebook.com/NBASPAIN/FR - https://www.facebook.com/NBAFrance/DE - https://www.facebook.com/NBADeutschland/UK - https://www.facebook.com/nbauk/IT - https://www.facebook.com/NBAItalia/TU - https://www.facebook.com/NBATurkiyeEurope is the home of so many of the world's best NBA players and on this channel we'll aim to tell their stories and reveal the league through a unique lens that you won't get anywhere else. You cant teach confidence. These are lessons that can be applied to any field," he said, "but particularly a creative field such as storytelling, where you have to constantly hone your craft, stay focused and committed, be prepared to pivot when necessary, and work well with your collaborators to ensure success.". Im here to show people that we can do much more than that. Named after a city in Japan, Bryant is the son of former NBA player Joe "Jellybean" Bryant. He was addressing fellow athletes: "We're not on this stage just because of talent or ability," Bryant. The nation continues to mourn Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, and the other family members, teammates, coaches and friends whose lives were snatched away in a tragic helicopter crash on January 26. . Its the ultimate challenge. ", Related:Vanessa Bryants Emotional Speech at Kobe and Gianna Bryants Memorial: They Couldnt Be on This Earth Without Each Other, 69. I had a constant craving, a yearning, to improve and be the best. If you were present with him you are the walking dead meaning you're too deep into idolatry. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I'm like, 'My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. You embrace it. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. So it was important to him, and his commitment was huge.. ", 52. It gives us the ability to keep pushing ourselves because we know that the sacrifices will be worth it. He once had dreamed of spanking former Lakers star Kobe Bryant. I wanted to be one of the best basketball players to ever play and anything else that was outside of that lane, I didnt have time for. The Holguins strongly considered Mater Dei, but Amalias former teammates had been lobbying for Sage Hill since middle school, Eadie said. They later won two more championships in 2009 and 2010. "I never needed any external forces to motivate me. During the memorial, renowned cellist Ben Hong played at. So she pops in a new piece before every quarter. I was an orange belt and the instructor ordered me to fight a black belt who was a couple years older and a lot bigger. Bryant, the 19-year-old Los Angeles Lakers phenom who began the day appearing on "Meet the Press," ended it meeting the 35-year-old Jordan chest-to-chest on the floor of Madison Square Garden.. The new basketball court features the signature purple and gold of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant's home for 20-years, in addition to decals of No. ", 44. Kobe Bryantleft us far too soon, but he also left an indelible mark on basketball, culture and the world. "If youre afraid to fail, then youre probably going to fail. . One night that week I had a dream about spanking Kobe and giving Shaq a smack, http://t.co/b67dgrzX pic.twitter.com/GoNtvghO, Grantland (@Grantland33) February 11, 2013. Then self-defense class. "I dont f**k with bees, man. Kobe Bryant died being a father. ", 40. Even if youre missing, keep shooting, itll fall. The competitive side of me thinks we can win every game that we play. I have insecurity. In every drill. ", 18. Kobe Bryant won a gold medal with the U.S. mens basketball team at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, showcasing his intense work ethic to a new generation of N.B.A. She creates highlights. There are still challenges every day. Oh, that's hard work.' I've seen that cycle, so why would I be nervous about it happening? One that truly exemplified his Mamba Mentality. Did you encounter any technical issues? A day after the. Stephen Curry has his mouthguard. ", 47. ", "I chose this location so that young people in this community may have a safe space to play with equal opportunity which was important to Kobe and Gianna," Vanessa Bryant wrote on Instagram. "I create my own path. There are sacrifices that come along with making that decision. If youre a fan of mine, youre a fan of winning. He detailed all this and more in his book Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success. Dream Interpretation is a place to post your dreams with the aim of having others discuss and interpret possible meanings of your dream or its constituent parts. With Bryant on the team, the Lakers achieved an incredible three-peat, winning three consecutive championships at the turn of the century. LA Times Today: Kobe Bryants Mamba Academy dream lives on with last protg, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Kobe Bryant crash anniversary: Reflecting on his death three years later, Unbeaten Sierra Canyon tops Southern California high school girls basketball rankings, Harvard-Westlakes Bryce Rainer fires out 92-mph fastballs in first start since 2021, New era of football begins at Mater Dei under coach Frank McManus, High school baseball and softball: Thursdays scores, Taft football coach Jeff Kearin resigns in support of assistant principal. Did he mean he misses the girls? TustinPlayground is one of three Dream Courts createdby theMamba & MambacitaSports Foundation and Nancy Lieberman Charities. We have a good time together. Sage Hill coach Kerwin Walters doesnt want robots, he says. We were having a shooting contest, and Kobe was so good at shooting the ball because he can step into the ball with either foot, left or right. If that doesnt get you going, I dont think anything will. Bryant went 13th to the Charlotte Hornets, who had agreed to trade him to the Los Angeles Lakers for the veteran center Vlade Divac. When Kobe Bryant said his 2012 U.S. Olympic basketball team could beat the Dream Team of 1992, responses spanned from the raised eyebrows of polite fans to the outright derision offered by several . During the memorial, renowned cellist Ben Hong played at center court as a video of the basketball legend appeared on the scoreboard. This isn't a surprise, because being a father had long ago become the most important thing in his life, even more than lifting the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA titles and earning international fame. The bad news for Colangelo was that the Suns had the 15th pick in the draft and were unable to move up in the order. Recorded in 2019, Kobe Bryant spoke in great length and depth about his journey, motivation, career and family. ", 58. The Lakers were in town to face the Suns, but Colangelo had something else on his mind: He wanted Bryant to represent the United States at the 2008 Olympics. In the dream I realized I was dreaming when I was with him and I told him about how he passed away in real life. "Im extremely willful to win, and I respond to challenges. "After all, greatness is not for everybody. "This is the moment I accept the most challenging times will always be behind me and in front of me. Growing up and watching all these great players play and learning so much from them. I still love it. Kobe Bryant won a gold medal with the U.S. men's basketball team at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, showcasing his intense work ethic to a new generation of N.B.A. . How do I take those lessons and move those here? The Los Angeles Lakers paid tribute to Kobe Bryant during the teams first game since the NBA legend died in a helicopter crash.