On a Wednesday, LeBron James engaged in an invigorating outdoor exercise session, all in preparation for his imminent return to the basketball court after the loss of his cherished friend, Kobe Bryant. Alongside his fellow Los Angeles Lakers teammates, James had been granted a day off on Monday to grieve the devastating passing of the iconic Lakers figure, Bryant, and his young daughter, Gianna. Originally scheduled to compete against their city rivals, the Clippers, on Tuesday, the game was regrettably canceled by the NBA due to the sorrowful circumstances of Bryant’s untimely departure.
On Wednesday, an image surfaced of LeBron James enthusiastically participating in an open-air workout session with the LA Lakers.
LeBron confidently launches a medicine ball into the air while engaging in a workout session with his teammate, Anthony Davis.
During the training session at the Lakers’ centralized facility, the renowned basketball player from the Lakers employs a flexible exercise band.
Davis clings onto the medicine ball as the Lakers gear up for their return to the court against Portland.
The Staples Center will witness a highly emotional evening for the NBA as the Lakers host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
In a heartwarming gesture, StubHub has announced that the proceeds from ticket sales of the Lakers vs Portland Trail Blazers game, as well as the rescheduled Lakers vs Clippers game, will be donated to the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation.
The basketball community was left in shock after the tragic announcement of Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others losing their lives in a helicopter crash in California.
Countless tributes poured in following Bryant’s death, and LeBron was among those honoring his mentor.
Breaking his silence on Monday evening, LeBron shared a heartfelt tribute to his fellow NBA legend, followed by a second tribute.
In his first post, LeBron expressed his difficulty in finding words to capture his grief, as thoughts of Bryant, his niece Gigi, and their special friendship overwhelmed him.
LeBron revealed that he had spoken to Bryant on Sunday morning, unaware that it would be their final conversation. He expressed his sorrow and devastation over the loss of his brother.
In an Instagram post, James made a heartfelt promise to carry on Bryant’s championship legacy with the Los Angeles Lakers. The photo showcases a warm embrace between the two during their time together at the London Olympics in 2012, as well as a snapshot from April 2016 when James was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
LeBron James took to his Instagram to pay homage to Kobe Bryant, sharing a tweet from the late basketball legend.
In his final tweet, Kobe expressed his admiration for LeBron James, commending him for his efforts in advancing the game of basketball. Kobe affectionately referred to LeBron as his brother, acknowledging the incredible achievement of scoring 33,644 points throughout his career with the LA Lakers.
Top of the game: Prior to his untimely demise, the iconic basketball player used social media to honor LeBron James’ momentous achievement in surpassing him to secure the coveted title of third-highest scorer of all time.
Homage: LeBron James paid a heartfelt tribute to his former Olympic companion, expressing their close bond by referring to him as “my brother.” He further conveyed his sentiments by adding a string of distinctive emojis, including a mamba snake, symbolizing the iconic Bryant.
‘I have so much love for you, my older brother. My thoughts are with Vanessa and the kids. I promise you, I will carry on your legacy. You mean everything to all of us, especially the #LakerNation, and it’s my duty to shoulder this responsibility and keep the momentum going!
I ask for strength from above and for you to watch over me. I have all of us here supporting each other! There’s so much more I want to say, but it’s just too difficult right now to find the words. Until we meet again, my brother!
James’ heartfelt message was accompanied by a photo of him in a Lakers uniform, warmly greeting Bryant as he rose from his courtside seat.
Bryant’s last tweet before his tragic death was a message to James, showing his admiration and saying, ‘Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother.’
James, despite his grief, had an outstanding performance in the LA Lakers’ loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 29 points. This pushed him to a career total of 33,655 points, surpassing Bryant’s 33,644 points. James now stands at third place on the all-time NBA scoring list, with only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone ahead of him.
In a touching image shared on Instagram, Kobe wrote, ‘On to #2 @kingjames! Keep growing the game and charting the path for the next generation.’
A heartbroken James posted a video on social media, capturing a playful moment between himself and Bryant just a few weeks ago during an NBA game. James affectionately called him ‘My brother!! I love you, man!’
