LA Galaxy pays tribute to Kobe Bryant two years after his death
Players and teams from Major League Soccer continue to pay tribute to the Los Angeles Lakers legend, who died in a tragic helicopter accident.
On 26 January 2020, Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others died in a tragic helicopter accident in Calabasas, California. The official cause of the crash was largely deemed to be pilot error and this tragedy united the entire city of Los Angeles in mourning for the LA Lakers hero.
MLS remembers Kobe Bryant
It has been two years since his death and for the first time people didn’t gather outside Crypto.com Arena, previously known as Staples Center, like they did on the one year anniversary of his passing. On 26 January 2022, less than 30 people were outside the arena many considered Kobe built with his titles with the Lakers, largely due to the covid-19 pandemic and the soaring cases in the city.
But several people have expressed themselves on social media and the Los Angeles Galaxy from Major League Soccer posted a picture that read ‘Mamba forever.' The NBA legend will forever be remembered and admired by his work ethic, mentality and his thirst to win.
Kobe was known to be a soccer fan and one of his favorite teams was FC Barcelona. The former Lakers player also spoke highly of Major League Soccer and applauded that European players were starting to come to the league at that time.
“When the league [MLS] started, only veteran players from Europe would come and play one or two seasons. That has changed now and players in their peak are joining different clubs,” Kobe said in 2020 when Javier Hernández joined the Galaxy.