My condolences: Los Angeles Lakers HC (JJ Redick) and one year old baby die in car crash…..
The Lakers great clearly left his mark on the likes of Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios, as they have paid tribute to Kobe in their own way.
Osaka wore a black Bryant jersey with the No.8 on the back, while Kyrgios wore the purple Lakers jersey with No.8 on the back at the US Open last night.
It marked a return to the court for the Australian, who missed out on the 2023 season.
The two teamed up, though it isn’t the first time they made their fandom of Bryant known.
“Sometimes when I sit and think about my career, I feel a little sad because like I wonder if he [Kobe Bryant] is disappointed in me and how I handle things,” Osaka once said on dealing with media pressure.
Osaka is known to wear Bryant’s jersey whenever she is looking for extra mental support and strength.
After defeating Serena Williams and then taking down Victoria Azarenka at the 2020 US Open, Osaka wore a Black Mamba jersey and sweater to a press conference.
“For today, I felt like I needed some extra strength. That’s kind of why I’m wearing this,” she said.
Osaka and Bryant met at the Bryant Orange County in 2019, with Osaka recalling how the Lakers star gave her a motivational talk to lift her spirits.
While Kyrgios wasn’t that close to Kobe, he has shown his immense respect for the Lakers great as well.
