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Jerry West reflects on Kobe Bryant: From wunderkind to icon

The Christmas card arrived in the mail at Jerry West’s home — it was from Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, and his family.

West and his wife, Karen, were both immediately overcome with emotion.

“As soon as I saw it, I said, ‘Oh, my God!’” West said. “And then my wife immediately ran out of the room just crying like crazy.”

The card had brought back a flood of sad memories from the tragic day when one of the most beloved Lakers, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020.