And championship teams here celebrate (together) sometimes. And the players, when theyвЂ™re around the practice facility like theyвЂ™ve been in the past, some of them have run into different Lakers over time. 'So that was a good experience for me to learn his true impact. вЂњBeing new to the community, I think I understood KobeвЂ™s place in our city, the history of the city and sport, but not to the magnitude that itвЂ™s proven to be,вЂќ McLellan said. Large portions of the plaza are covered with mementos, signs and flowers as thousands of fans visit the area to play quiet tribute to Bryant and the victims.ДЇor first-year Kings coach Todd McLellan, the tragedy and a subsequent game evoked memories of his tenure with the Edmonton Oilers, when his team had to play in April 2018 shortly after the Humboldt Broncos' bus crash, which killed 16 people. The LA Live entertainment complex across the street from Staples Center has been turned into an area of mourning for fans. He was here to win games and win championships, and thatвЂ™s the ultimate goal in sports.вЂќ вЂњHe was known as the Black Mamba and the closer. вЂњHe was the ultimate champion,вЂќ Kopitar said. Bryant played the final 17 seasons of his 20-year career at the busy arena in downtown Los Angeles.Д«ryant also attended numerous Kings games over the years, often bringing along his daughters. The sticker featured Bryant's uniform numbers superimposed over a yellow heart along with вЂњKobeвЂќ and вЂњGigi.'ДЄfter 32 seasons together in the Forum, the Kings and Lakers have shared Staples Center along with the Los Angeles Clippers since the building opened in 1999. The teams have continuously shared an arena since the Kings joined the NHL in 1967, and Lakers owner Jerry Buss also owned the Kings from 1979-88.Д«efore they changed into their uniforms, many Kings and Lightning players donned purple T-shirts featuring the same logo affixed to the back of both teams' helmets when they took the ice. The Kings organization is historically linked to the Lakers, and not just because they shared a training complex in El Segundo until 2017. вЂњThe lives lost and the magnitude of this terrible moment has been impossible to comprehend.вЂќ вЂњWhat took place this past Sunday has us all reeling,вЂќ Miller said. The game was Staples Center's first since Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, died along with seven others in Calabasas, California, on Sunday.Д«ob Miller, the Kings' longtime broadcaster, spoke to the crowd before a sombre video aired on the scoreboards. вЂњItвЂ™s a little unorthodox for our dress code, but we wanted to pay our respects.вЂќ вЂњFor us as hockey players, being so many years kind of connected to the Lakers, we felt like weвЂ™ve got to pay some sort of tribute,вЂќ Kopitar told the Kings' television broadcasters. Kings captain Anze Kopitar said the players collectively decided to wear Bryant's jersey in homage.

Both teams then wore tribute stickers on the backs of their helmets when the Kings hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning. 24 versions of Bryant's jersey from his 20-year career with the Lakers. The Kings also honoured Bryant and the other victims of Sunday's crash with a pregame video tribute and a 24-second moment of silence Wednesday night. LOS ANGELES - All the Los Angeles Kings players showed up to Staples Center wearing Kobe Bryant jerseys before the arena's first sporting event since the retired Lakers superstar's death in a helicopter crash.

Staples diamond video capture