Today is Memorial Day for Bryant in L.A.
Four weeks after Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna, 13, were killed in a helicopter crash, the public will have an opportunity to say goodbye.
The memorial for the nine people killed in the helicopter crash Jan. 26 is at noon Monday at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
No official guest list has been released, and there is much speculation about who will attend with the fans who were lucky enough to buy tickets, which ranged from $24.02 to $242. All proceeds go to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.
Kobe and Gianna were buried in a private service Feb. 7 at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar, California.
Who may speak?
Adam Silver: The commissioner feels like a shoo-in for this.
Jerry West: As Lakers general manager in 1996, West traded for the draft rights to Bryant that summer. He also signed Shaquille O’Neal and brought coach Phil Jackson on board. Bryant went on to lead the Lakers to five titles, and West loved him like a son.
Magic Johnson: The Hall of Famer led the “Showtime” Lakers to five titles in the 1980s. He is synonymous with the organization and opened the All-Star Game tribute to Bryant at the United Center.
Shaquille O’Neal: While they had their public feuds, they won three titles together in LA.
Mike Krzyzewski: The former Team USA coach who led the team to gold in 2008 and 2012, when Bryant was on the team. Krzyzewski could make the trip to Los Angeles, with the Duke men’s basketball team off Sunday and Monday.
Phil Jackson: This would be a surprise. He doesn’t have a strong relationship with West. The 11-time NBA champion coach was at the helm for all five titles with Bryant. However, they clashed over style of play, and Jackson once demanded the Lakers trade Bryant. Their relationship improved during Jackson’s second stint with the team.
LeBron James: The NBA’s most popular player today, James spoke publicly for the first time since Bryant’s death at the Lakers’ first game back Jan. 31. Expect to hear from him again.
Who may attend?
Vanessa Bryant and her daughters Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and Capri. Vanessa has not made a public appearance since the crash. She could be accompanied by her mother, Sofia, and her sister, Sophie.
Among the family that could be seen are Bryant’s parents, Joe and Pam Bryant, and his older sisters, Sharia and Shaya. Kobe and Vanessa Bryant’s relationship with his family has been strained since before they wed in 2001.
Many NBA luminaries and former players also will attend, including Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Some names to look for: Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Bill Russell and Pat Riley.