NBA didn’t seriously consider postponing games

The NBA did not give serious consideration to postponing Sunday’s games following the death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, earlier in the day, a person familiar with the league’s thinking told USA TODAY Sports.

The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the sensitive nature of the tragedy.

It has been suggested by many that Bryant, who wanted nothing more than to win games, would have wanted teams to honor him by playing.

The league also received criticism on social media for playing games. However, there are other logistical reasons, such as arena availability and rescheduling six games for 12 teams with less than half a season remaining, that make it difficult to play postponed games.

Because the league had afternoon games scheduled, teams were already in arenas getting ready to play when news of Bryant’s death began reaching players.

It was plain to see basketball was not first and foremost on players’ minds. Houston’s Tyson Chandler shook his head on the bench, trying to comprehend the news.

Teams playing in the afternoon closed their locker rooms to the media before the game.

Many of today’s players grew up watching and emulating Bryant.

“When we heard it, we didn’t really feel like playing basketball at the time. ... Whole first half I wasn’t even thinking about basketball,” Denver’s Michael Porter Jr. told reporters after the Nuggets beat the Rockets 117- 110. “It felt like my head was somewhere else. Even in the second half ... it was tough, just because I love Kobe. He’s a legend to me. I looked up to him my whole life, watched his highlights all the time.”