As the Los Angeles Lakers got set to finish up their pregame tribute to Kobe Bryant before taking on the Portland Trail Blazers, LeBron James walked up to the center of the court.
Fighting back tears while wearing a Bryant jersey, James delivered an emotional, heartfelt and inspiring speech that is worth watching in its entirety.
"Tonight we celebrate the kid that came here at 18, retired at 38 and became probably the best dad we've seen over the last three years.” pic.twitter.com/0sS7e91cuz
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 1, 2020
If you for some reason cannot watch the above video, here is what James said as he addressed a cheering crowd of fans all mourning Bryant and the eight others who died with him in a helicopter crash on Sunday:
“Before I get started on the speech that I have, I want to acknowledge all the lives that were lost Sunday morning.