Before a star-studded tribute dedicated to former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, singer Usher performed Amazing Grace as images of the late basketball player played on the jumbo screen at half-court.
Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven other people were killed in a helicopter crash outside of Los Angeles last week.
R&B group Boyz II Men sang a rendition of the national anthem, and Lakers guard LeBron James addressed the crowd.
“I know, at some point, we will have a memorial for Kobe, but I look at this as a celebration tonight,” James said. “This is a celebration of the 20 years of the blood, the sweat, the tears, the broken-down body, the getting up, the sitting down, the countless hours, the determination to be as great as he could be.”
The Lakers organization distributed free jerseys to every person in attendance, and the lowest-priced tickets for the event were $700 on resale site StubHub.
Usher performs “Amazing Grace” during the Lakers’ tribute to Kobe. pic.twitter.com/NV88OpW5Uq
— ESPN (@espn) February 1, 2020
Boyz II Men sings the national anthem during the Lakers’ pregame ceremony. pic.twitter.com/yvnwZhyd53
— ESPN (@espn) February 1, 2020
