Duke basketball superstar remembers legend on anniversary of death

Former Duke basketball standout Kyrie Irving honors the late Kobe Bryant. 

It has been one year since the tragic death of the legendary Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others, and former Duke basketball standout Kyrie Irving honored his close friend and mentor on Monday night.

Irving, who stars for the Brooklyn Nets, arrived at the Barclays Center in a vintage Bryant jersey from when he wore No. 8 for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Brooklyn does not play on the one-year anniversary of Bryant’s death, so Irving opted to honor his friend one day prior.

The former Blue Devil posted 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in the Nets’ 98-85 victory over the Miami Heat.

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On the day of the tragic crash, Irving was very emotional and stunned, like many others in the NBA and across the country, and left Madison Square Garden as the Nets were scheduled to face the New York Knicks that evening and did not play.

Kobe Bryant took Kyrie Irving under his wing as the two competed with Team USA prior to the retirement of the five-time NBA Champion.

Irving, along with many others in the NBA community, attended the public service for Bryant in the Staples Center last year.

Other Duke basketball standouts remember Kobe Bryant

In the days after Bryant’s death, Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski was also very emotional talking about his former player, and the program honored the late legend by wearing warm-up shirts with No. 8 and No. 24 on the front and back in purple and gold.

The Blue Devils (5-5, 3-3 ACC) will play on the one-year anniversary of Bryant’s death in Cameron Indoor Stadium against Georgia Tech (7-4, 3-2 ACC).

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Austin Rivers also shared his thoughts on the legacy of Kobe Bryant one year after his death prior to the New York Knicks’ matchup against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.

The basketball world continues to mourn the death of Kobe Bryant and will feel his lasting impact on the world for decades to come.