Los Angeles (AFP)

Purple and gold tears in "the house that Kobe Bryant built": the Lakers, star LeBron James at the head, at the height of emotion, paid a vibrant tribute to their legend disappeared in a helicopter accident on Friday at the Staples Center.

The Los Angeles Downtown venue hosted the Lakers' first game against Portland since the Sunday tragedy, three days after the postponement of the "angelino" duel against the Clippers, which was then impossible to play.

Two days earlier, they learned like the whole world, shaken, the tragedy. This fatal crash to Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others, occurred on Calabasas Hill, northwest of LA

LeBron, whose images crying at Los Angeles airport that afternoon went around the world, was still there during the national anthem, well sung by the Boyz II Men.

"I know that at some point we will have a memorial for Kobe, but I see it as a celebration tonight. A celebration of twenty years of blood, sweat, tears, bruised body, countless hours , determined, to be as tall as he could be, "said the" King. "

- "This is what Kobe Bryant would like" -

"Tonight we celebrate the kid who came here at 18, retired at 38 and has probably become the best father we have seen in the past three years," said James, who became tattoo on a calf "Mamba 4 Life" ("Mamba for life") written under a snake wrapped in a 24 and an 8. "Black Mamba" was the nickname of Kobe Bryant.

"I will continue with my teammates to continue his legacy not only this year but as long as we can continue to play basketball, which we love, because that is what Kobe Bryant would like," he concluded. .

After which, he was hugged by his teammates, each of whom was then introduced by the announcer in one and the same way: "From the Lower Merion High School, with the number 24, Kobe Bryant".

The match then started, with no action played during the first 24.2 seconds. Or the numbers of "Kobe" and "Gigi" chanted at the same time by the public.

The celebrations had started half an hour earlier in a packed Staples Center where 19,000 people had put on the yellow t-shirt found in their seats.

In the dark, in front of two sheaves of yellow roses forming his favorite numbers, the rapper Usher sang "Amazing Grace". Only one light remained, high up on the ceiling, the one riveted on the two jerseys removed from the legend. Those of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal did not sit as usual alongside them.

- "Take care of us" -

Then a video retracing what Kobe was was released, on a theme played by cellist Ben Hong. He talks about his love of the game, his famous "Mamba mentality" which allowed him to achieve the impossible, like these five NBA titles offered to the Lakers. He also proclaims his love for Vanessa his wife and their four daughters.

Outside, well before the meeting, several thousand people had stopped flocking. Many have written a word on the huge tables at their disposal. And as space was lacking, the paved floor of LA Live adjacent to the Staples Center was blackened.

Strolling among the candles, flowers, photos strewn on the ground, you could come across many people who came to meditate - "it's this evening that you have to be there", said a fan - people overwhelmed by the pain too, like this father in his forties supported by his adolescent son.

Nearby, a group formed to observe a painter at work. "It’s a gift I’m going to give to Vanessa and the girls next week," said Reza Safa, claiming to know the Bryant family, about this impressionist painting of a well-known photo of Kobe carrying his daughter Gianna on his shoulders. looking up at the sky.

Up there, stagnating in a clear blue sky like there hasn't been since Sunday, the police helicopters watched this spectacle. Still above, the deceased hero must have answered the call of the fans and this imploring kid: "Look after us Kobe", "Take care of us, Kobe".

© 2020 AFP