A 6'6" guard from Lower Merion High School… pic.twitter.com/UfTKliRLS7
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 29, 2020
Whenever you hear “A 6’6 guard, from Lower Merion” you get chills down your spine. It is one of the greatest intro’s of any player who’s spent time playing for the Sixers or came through as an opponent. The amount of respect this city had for Kobe is unparalleled only to LA. Here is everything before, during, and after the Sixers tribute to Kobe Bryant tonight.
💜 It sure looks beautiful inside Wells Fargo Center right now. 💜 pic.twitter.com/wECBcvWBwJ
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) January 28, 2020
Never thought I would see the Wells Fargo Center lit up purple in Lakers colors
Sixers home and Phillies Citizens Bank Park Liberty Bell lit up for Kobe Bryant#RIPMamba 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/ZmUvCEyHpi
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 27, 2020
Fans of course showed out with their own honors to Kobe with plenty of different jerseys highlighting different times of his career.
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 28, 2020
❝ The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great at whatever they want to do. ❞ – Kobe Bryant pic.twitter.com/6qHN5Rzp72
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 28, 2020
The Sixers all came out in #8 and #24 jerseys and it was awesome. The amount of respect these players late and early in their careers for Kobe is unpalpable.
Every Sixers player is wearing a #8 or 24 during warm ups. 💜 pic.twitter.com/xA4c9z290w
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 28, 2020
Sixers are all wearing Kobe Bryant Sixers jerseys in warmups #24 #8#RIPMambaAndGianna pic.twitter.com/MZbETngdQo
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 28, 2020
The entire Sixers team is wearing Kobe Bryant Sixers jerseys in warmups #24 #8#RIPMambaAndGianna pic.twitter.com/Sw3lpvC73V
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 29, 2020
The entire pregame tribute the Sixers did for Kobe, GiGi, and the 7 other souls on the helicopter was flawlessly done. From the 9 light silhouette’s on the floor, to the 33 second moment of silence for his jersey number at Lower Merion, and the 9 rings of the bell. Followed up by a beautiful video package and an even more beautiful National Anthem performance.
Here is the entire moving ceremony commemorating the life and legacy of Kobe Bryant ❤️💜 pic.twitter.com/VvdiG0vMia
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 29, 2020
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) January 29, 2020
I didn’t think anyone was going to wear 24 tonight especially because it was already retired by Bobby Jones. But it was awesome on Jones and Embiid’s part that they got this cleared in time for Embiid to wear it tonight. What an awesome tribute to Kobe by Embiid, who was one of the main reasons why Embiid started playing basketball.
Joel Embiid is wearing No. 24 tonight.
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) January 29, 2020
Joel Embiid was approved to wear #24 tonight, in honor of Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/OPcWsEBSU2
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 29, 2020
“If it wasn’t for Kobe, I would probably be playing volleyball or something, I don’t know. Maybe be a doctor”
– Joel Hans Embiid#PhilaUnite #Sixers— Broad Street Buddies (@BroadStBuddies) January 29, 2020
"……if it wasn't for Kobe, I wouldn't have been here."
Joel Embiid caught up with @SerenaWinters to open up about Kobe Bryant's impact on him and the honor of wearing No.24. pic.twitter.com/oSqW9Ed8KD
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 29, 2020
Zhaire Smith, who typically wears #8 wore #7 instead and will now wear #5 for the rest of the season forgoing one of Kobe’s numbers alike Spencer Dinwiddie, who wore #24, did.
GET 🆙
Zhaire Smith, wearing a No. 7 instead of 8 tonight, goes in for the jam. pic.twitter.com/aM6zgIg74Q
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 29, 2020
As all NBA teams who’ve played prior, the Sixers started off taking an 8 second violation than the Warriors subsequently followed with a 24 second violation.
Each team took an 8 second violation, which was the first number Kobe Bryant wore, as chants of KO-BE ring out at Wells Fargo Center pic.twitter.com/6bCX7UqqzW
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 29, 2020
Former LA Lakers sideline reporter Serena Winters had a great story on the impact Kobe had on her life. She’s shared some really awesome memories this week as she was with Kobe during the tail end of his career.
Kobe Bryant's impact stretched farther than many could imagine.
Our @SerenaWinters shares the incredible impact Bryant had on her life, which actually led her to Philadelphia as part of her career. pic.twitter.com/sQ7Fq7ikKi
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 29, 2020
Raul Neto, who played in Kobe’s last game ever while on the Utah Jazz, got HOT in the first half with 19.
Neto: confirmed feelin' himself.
Give him 19 on the board. pic.twitter.com/M2mYIR4dgc
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 29, 2020
Embiid finished with a fitting 24 points on a fadeaway Kobe-esque jumper.
Embiid said he did, in fact, yell Kobe during this shot. It was his 24th point of the night. https://t.co/1omm1P7P7Y
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) January 29, 2020
“KOBE!”
Joel Embiid scoring his 24th point on this move while wearing #24 is something special. pic.twitter.com/eEhnvczOQY
— A (@aidan_34_powers) January 29, 2020
The post-game press conference had some nice quotes from Brett Brown regarding the game and how he felt it would’ve been disingenuous if he coached the team the same way he does if it’s just a regular game.
Brett Brown’s thoughts on the touching pregame ceremony the #Sixers did to honor Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the victims of Sunday’s tragic crash pic.twitter.com/QCQYfnf2iQ
— Dave Uram (@MrUram) January 29, 2020
Brett Brown admitted that given the circumstances of the night, he didn’t coach the #Sixers like he usually does at the start of their game against the #Warriors pic.twitter.com/z8WJAFRL7x
— Dave Uram (@MrUram) January 29, 2020
Embiid discusses wearing No. 24 as a tribute to Kobe, and how his life journey was determined in part by seeing Bryant play in the Finals pic.twitter.com/OwKgVwx6Dc
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) January 29, 2020