As the world makes peace with the passing of Kobe and Gianna Bryant, the professional sports community has come together to pay tribute to their friend, mentor and inspiration. Click on the slide below for pro athletes’ feelings in their own words.
The former NBA player and ESPN analyst said Kobe was his hero. PaulPierce/Instagram
Kobe’s former teammate encouraged Bryant’s support of the WNBA when he became their coach. dereklfisher/Instagram
The Cavaliers star was Kobe’s former teammate on the gold medal winning U.S. Men’s Basketball team. kevinlove/Instagram
The outspoken Warriors star was nothing but gracious in his tribute to Kobe. money23green/Instagram
Retired from the Warriors, Zaza is now a consultant for the team and was quick to share his sentiments on Kobe. ZazaPachulia/Instagram
Kobe was an avid Dodgers fan, much appreciated by Puig during his tenure on the team. YasielPuig/Instagram
The Canadian native who played 18 seasons in the NBA shares his admiration of Kobe as a father. @SteveNash/Twitter
The 25-year-old member of the 76’ers expressed his deep admiration for Bryant. @JoelEmbiid/Twitter
The Lakers star expressed heartbreak over the loss of his idol. Kuz/Instagram
The former WNBA and current Big 3 coach expressed heartfelt condolences and referred to Bryant as her “brother.” @LisaLeslie/Twitter
Kobe had been an avid supporter of the Dodgers and of Justin Turner. @redturn/Instagram
The wide receiver for the Giants paid tribute to his idol. Saquon/Instagram
The newly retired Olympic gold medalist was at a loss for words, but later shared a longer, deeply emotional tribute to Bryant. @lindseyvonn/Instagram
