During Sunday’s All-Star game — which sawTeam LeBron defeat Team Gianniswith a target score of 157 in the fourth quarter — all members of Team LeBron wore No. 2 jerseys in memory of Byrant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, while Team Giannis players wore No. 24 in honor of the longtime Lakers star.
And while both All-Star teams played for their chosen charities —Chicago Scholars(Team LeBron) andAfter School Matters(Team Giannis) — the players will also donate all of the money earned from auctioning off the Jordan Brand jerseys to Bryant’s foundations: Mamba on Three Fund and the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.
The Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation — which updated its name from the Mamba Sports Foundation after the incident — aims to provide underserved communities with sports programs that enrich their “socio-emotional and physical development,” according to itswebsite.
Ahead of Sunday’s game, bothJennifer Hudsonand Common performed emotional tributes in honor of the late athlete and as an homage to the other victims, both teams also wore patches with nine stars to represent all who were lost in the crash, includingJohn Altobelli,Keri Altobelli,Alyssa Altobelli,Sarah Chester, Payton Chester,Christina Mauserand pilotAra Zobayan.
Even more, the All-Star Game MVP honor — awarded to L.A. Clippers playerKawhi Leonardon Sunday — was renamed the Kia NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award.
“You could definitely feel [Bryant’s] presence just from the start,”LeBron Jamestold reporters after the game. “From every moment from the fans chanting his name till you seen the numbers. Every time you saw Giannis’ team run on the floor, you saw the 2-4. So he was definitely here.”
Regarding the pregame Bryant tributes and all the Mamba-inspired dedications, James said, “anything else would be uncivilized.”
If you would like to help the families of the victims of the crash, consider donating to theMamba on Three Fund. Contributions to theMamba and Mambacita Sports Foundationwill help support youth sports.
source: people.com
