New York, United States – Kobe Bryant’s jersey number 24 will be honored at the NBA All-Star Game in February under a new format for the mid-season exhibition announced on Thursday (Friday Philippine time).
The NBA said every quarter of this year’s All-Star game will be a “mini-game” for charity with an untimed final period with a target score that will decide who wins.
Scores will be reset to 0-0 at the start of the second and third quarters, then restored to start the fourth.
Then a target score comes into play, with the first team to reach that number winning. The target will be the number of points scored by the leading team from the first three quarters, plus 24.
The NBA said All-Star weekend in Chicago, capped by the game on February 16, will feature multiple tributes to Bryant, the five-time NBA champion who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday that also claimed the lives of his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people.
The 69th All-Star game will feature teams led by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and by Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.
Meanwhile, Jeanie Buss, the controlling owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers, made her first public comments since Kobe Bryant’s death via Instagram, calling the franchise icon “family.”
“Kobe, I don’t know how to express what you mean to me, my family and the Los Angeles Lakers,” wrote Buss, daughter of longtime owner Jerry Buss who died three years before Bryant retired.
Bryant, who won five NBA titles in a 20-year tenure with the Lakers, died Sunday in a helicopter crash that also claimed the lives of his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people.
“My father loved you like a son, which makes us family,” Buss wrote.
“When you invited me to lunch shortly after my father passed away, I was struggling to find motivation and purpose. Kobe, you brought Gianna with you to spend some time with me. You explained that you wanted to show her that women can be leaders in the NBA, just like the men.
“At first, it seemed like an action of a devoted father setting an example for his daughter. But in actuality – and I am positively sure you knew EXACTLY what you were doing – what you did was give me the inspiration and strength I was searching for.
“For everything you did on the court that filled me with so much joy and love, for all the lives you changed through basketball itself, it was that day with Gigi that reignited my drive and determination.”
Buss expressed sympathy to Bryant’s wife Vanessa and their other three daughters: Natalia, Bianka and Capri.
“We will always be here for you,” she said. “To the families that also lost loved ones on Sunday, the entire Laker family mourns with you.
“Laker Nation – we are one family grieving the loss of people we all loved dearly.
“We will mourn together, cry together but we will also heal together, love together and win TOGETHER. We love you. Kobe – that’s what you made you so unbelievably special. You not only inspired us towards greatness, you showed us the way.”