CHICAGO — It has become one of the NBA’s most revered traditions: On the morning of the NBA All-Star Game, the league pays tribute to retired players with what is called the Legends Brunch. It brings together about 3,000 guests, and every year, a recent retiree with ties to the game’s host city is honoured.He declined. He couldn’t attend. His reason: his daughter Gianna Bryant had a game that morning.
This All-Star weekend is in Michael Jordan’s longtime home of Chicago, which will be highlighted by a game wherewill serve as captains — but it was, predictably and understandably, overshadowed by Bryant. It’s been three weeks now since he, 13-year-old Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash in Southern California. And the mourning period is still very active, very real, very necessary.
“Just as a reminder: Who more embodies the spirit of All-Star than Kobe? ... He always played hard. He didn’t care if it was an All-Star game,” Silver said. “And I think that’s what he and David had in common. They always competed. They believed in the power of sports. They believed in winning and they believed it was necessary to always give their all. And I think that’s why their losses have resonated with so many people around the world.
On Sunday, Johnson finally got his chance to speak at the event and pay tribute to Bryant. He told the story about how, before Bryant was drafted in 1996, Jerry West called him to say that he had seen the greatest draft workout that he could recall.“And I said, ‘Really,’” Johnson said. “He said, ‘Yes, this guy named. Just was incredible in his workout and we’re going to do everything we can to draft him.
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