The NBA is postponing Tuesday night's game between the Lakers and Clippers following the death of Kobe Bryant, the league has announced.
The game was set to take place at Staples Center.
"THANK YOU, KOBE."
Hundreds of fans chanted outside the Staples Center to pay tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in Southern California. https://t.co/xdOulVCI6b pic.twitter.com/ujSr5wMYdL
"The National Basketball Association game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 28 at Staples Center has been postponed," a statement announcing the postponement, which was shared on Twitter, read. "The decision was made out of respect for the Lakers organization, which is deeply grieving the tragic loss of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people in a helicopter crash on Sunday."
The following has been released by the NBA pic.twitter.com/NgrEP2qpDi
Lakers players, coaches and officials and entire organization have been deeply grieving loss of Kobe Bryant. “These guys are not ready to play basketball right now,” one source close to Lakers and Clippers players said today. https://t.co/bsDgCGoxeU
Sources: After tragic death of Kobe Bryant, NBA and the Lakers/Clippers consulted all day, with grief counselors on sight with Lakers organization. Ultimately, the decision was made to postpone Tuesday's game and allow entire Lakers franchise to continue to grieve, mourn, heal.
Lakers organization is much more than its stars, its coaches and team officials. It makes up hundreds. All deeply grieving and using this time to mourn. https://t.co/WrmVHXqxqw
News of the date the game will be rescheduled to will be announced in the coming days.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver called Kobe "one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game" shortly after his passing. "He was generous with the wisdom he acquired and saw it as his mission to share it with future generations of players, taking special delight in passing down his love of the game to Gianna," Silver said. "We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their family, the Lakers organization and the entire sports world."
Shortly after it was announced that the Lakers-Clippers game would be postponed, Shams Charania reported that Kobe called LeBron James on Saturday after he surpassed Bryant on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
