Kobe Bryant Memorial Opens With Emotional Video of the NBA Star in His Own Words

LeBron James is still in awe of Vanessa Bryant. The 35-year-old basketball star praised Kobe Bryant’s widow amid rumors that he didn’t attend the late athlete’s public memorial.

LeBron James has spoken out about Monday’s event, which honored his late friend, Kobe Bryant, and Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.

Kobe Bryant's former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Shaquille O'Neal on Monday took the stage at Staples Center to pay tribute to the late NBA legend during an emotional memorial service. "Like all of you, I continue to be devastated over the loss of my friend, my little brother, Kobe Bryant, and my beautiful niece Gigi," O'Neal said, adding that "all of us were forever changed" after the Jan.

Gone but certainly not forgotten. Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant were honored during a public memorial service after passing away in a tragic helicopter wreck last month.

Christina Aguilera took the stage at Los Angeles' Staples Center on Monday (Feb. 24) to deliver an emotional performance of "Ave Maria" at Kobe and Gianna Bryant's Celebration of Life ceremony.

Fans paid tribute to Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant with a celebration of life service on Monday.  Attendees arrived at the Los Angeles Staples Center—often referred to as "the house that Kobe built"—in their Lakers team attire and were given booklets featuring photos of the Bryant family.  The date of the public memorial—2/24/20—held significance for the Bryant family. Two and 24 represented the numbers that appeared on Gianna's and Kobe's basketball jerseys, respectively.

Alicia Keys performed a heartfelt rendition of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" for Kobe and Gianna Bryant's Celebration of Life ceremony at the NBA legend's old stomping grounds at Los Angeles' Staples Center on Monday (Feb. 24).

The late Kobe Bryant's wife, Vanessa Bryant was teary-eyed as she paid a heartfelt tribute to her husband and 13-year-old daughter Gianna. Vanessa Bryant for the first time post her husband and daughter's tragic death spoke in public at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Fans around the world tuned in to see Monday's "A Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant," the moving and star-studded tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna.

Shaquille O'Neal will never forget his special teammate. During Monday's celebration of life for Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant, many speakers from the basketball community were able to share their fond memories of the Los Angeles Lakers player.

Up until his passing, Kobe Bryant was doing good for others. During Monday's celebration of life for the NBA player and his daughter Gianna Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka took to the stage to share his fondest memories of his close friend.

Alicia Keys is celebrating the life of Kobe Bryant through her musical talents.  During Monday morning's celebration of life ceremony for the Los Angeles Lakers basketball player and his daughter Gianna Bryant, Alicia performed a special song, described as one of Kobe and wife Vanessa Bryant's "favorite numbers," inside the Staples Center.

Nearly one month after Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant and seven others were killed in a horrific helicopter crash, the Staples Center held a special public memorial to remember the victims on Feb. 24.

Alicia Keys' tribute to Kobe Bryant during the "Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" service was beautiful.