Many teams around the NBA have honoured Kobe Bryant by beginning their games with 24-second shot clock or 8-second halfcourt violations. On Sunday, Kobe and his daughter Gianna were among the nine victims of a helicopter crash in Calabasas.
Playing against the Sacramento Kings on Monday, Andrew Wiggins and the Minnesota Timberwolves followed suit by taking an 8-second violation to start their game, but they added a personal touch to the moment.
On December 14th, 2014, Kobe scored his 32,293rd career point at the free throw line while playing at the Target Center in Minneapolis to pass Michael Jordan's record of 32,292 for third place in all-time career points.
After the Wolves won tip-off against the Kings, Wiggins placed the ball at the exact spot where Kobe passed Jordan. The Kings would follow Minnesota’s tribute with a 24-second violation of their own, while the crowd rose to their feet in applause.
In one way or another, Kobe’s influence was felt by every player across the game, and that includes Wiggins, who Kobe once likened to a younger version of himself.
Kobe finished his career third in all-time scoring with 33,643 points, a record which would stand until LeBron James memorably passed the record on Saturday, the night before Kobe’s untimely helicopter crash. The two would reportedly share one final conversation the same night.
