Magic Johnson pays tribute to Kobe: We’ll never see another basketball player quite like him

Johnson led the crowd — which chanted “Kobe! Kobe!’’ — in an eight-second moment of silence in a nod to the number Bryant wore the first half of his career.

Magic Johnson honored Kobe Bryant before the All-Star Game with an emotional speech.

Per ESPN, “We’ll never see another basketball player quite like Kobe,” said Johnson, who also paid tribute to David Stern, the late NBA commissioner emeritus. “Scoring 81 points in one game. Scoring 60 points in his last game. And then winning five NBA championships.

“But what I’m really proud about when we think about Kobe Bryant, there’s millions of people in Los Angeles that don’t have a home. Kobe was fighting to get them homes and shelter every single day. He was passionate about that. He was also passionate about being a great father, husband, filmmaker. Young man won an Oscar. So we all are hurting. This is a tough time for the whole NBA family.”
Johnson led the crowd — which chanted “Kobe! Kobe!’’ — in an eight-second moment of silence in a nod to the number Bryant wore the first half of his career.

Kobe, we miss you and I hope we made you proud.

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) February 17, 2020