People all across the globe were devastated on Sunday when news emerged that Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others died in a tragic helicopter accident in Los Angeles.
The news shocked NBA players and fans across the United States, but the global basketball icon garnered hundreds of tributes from countries like China, Mexico, the Philippines and Italy. Bryant had a particularly close relationship with Italy because his father played for the Italian Basketball Federation (FIBA), as well as Mexico because his wife is Mexican American.
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On Monday, FIBA President Giovanni Petrucci said in a statement that every game will hold a minute-long moment of silence in honor of Bryant, who lived in the country from ages 6 to 13 because his father Joe Bryant was playing professional basketball there.
“A small but heartfelt and dutiful gesture to honor the life and memory of Kobe Bryant, absolute champion who has always had Italy in his heart,” Petrucci said.
Source: Italian Basketball Federation Establishes Weeklong Memoriam Of Kobe Bryant
