Thousands pay their final respects to Kobe Bryant

Reuters Videos
Updated

(SOUNDBITE)(ENGLISH) KOBE BRYANT'S WIDOW, VANESSA BRYANT, SAYING:

"I have no idea how I deserved a man that loved and wanted me more than Kobe."

NBA legends and celebrities joined thousands of fans on Monday at the Staple Center in Los Angeles to honor and remember NBA star Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and seven others who died last month in a helicopter crash that sent shockwaves throughout the sports world and beyond.

Bryant's widow, Vanessa Bryant, told a rapt audience about losing her 13-year-old daughter Gianna…

(SOUNDBITE)(ENGLISH) KOBE BRYANT'S WIDOW, VANESSA BRYANT, SAYING:

"I'll never get to see my baby girl walk down the aisle, have a father-daughter dance with her daddy, dance on the dance floor with me or have babies of her own."

…and called her husband her "soulmate."

(SOUNDBITE)(ENGLISH) KOBE BRYANT'S WIDOW, VANESSA BRYANT, SAYING:

"Kobe and I have been together since I was 17 ½ years old, I was his first girlfriend, his first love, his wife, his best friend, his confidant, and his protector."

Among the others to speak was NBA legend Michael Jordan, someone who Bryant idolized as a player and competitor.

(SOUNDBITE)(ENGLISH) NBA HALL-OF-FAMER, MICHEAL JORDAN, SAYING:

"What Kobe Bryant was to me was an inspiration that someone truly cared about either the way I played the game or the way that he wanted to play the game. He wanted to be the best basketball player that he could be. I wanted to be the best big brother that I could be."

Shaquille O'Neal - a teammate of Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers for eight seasons during which they won three straight championships together, lightened the mood with a few jokes.

(SOUNDBITE)(ENGLISH) NBA GREAT, SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, SAYING:

"We got your back little brother. I'll look after things down here, I'll be sure to teach Natalia and Bianca and baby Capri all of your moves, and I promise I will not teach them my free throw techniques..."

A helicopter carrying Bryant and the others crashed on January 26th in Calabasas, California, while en route to a youth basketball tournament at which Bryant was planning to coach his daughter and her teammates.

Vanessa Bryant filed a wrongful death lawsuit on Monday against the operator of the helicopter.

The pilot was one of those killed in the accident.

Fans gathered outside the arena hours before the ceremony started, many of them clad in Lakers purple and gold.

The tributes included performances from Beyonce and Alicia Keys with A-list Hollywood stars, including Jennifer Lopez and Queen Latifah.

Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel cried as he read out the names of the deceased…telling the packed stadium that it was a sad day but one that also celebrated life.