It was still dark when Jesus Martinez arrived at Staples Center on Tuesday morning. The 23-year-old placed a wreath of purple, white and yellow flowers in front near the statues of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. It could be where Kobe Bryant’s statue stands one day.
One year after a helicopter crash killed the former Lakers star, his daughter Gianna and seven others, fans honored Bryant on Tuesday while reflecting on the five-time NBA champion’s legacy.
“It was hard to believe that a year has passed already; it feels like almost yesterday honestly, because of the pandemic,” Martinez said by phone Tuesday.