Around 20,000 fans, friends and family members had gathered for the public memorial ceremony in the Los Angeles Lakers arena, where Kobe Bryant played his home games, writes the Los Angeles Times.

Kobe Bryant's wife, Vanessa Bryant, gave a public speech for the first time, which was full of emotion.

"God knew they couldn't live here on earth without each other," Vanessa Bryant said with a cracked voice to the crowded arena