Published 11:43 IST, February 17th 2020
NBA All-Star Game 2020: Jennifer Hudson pays tribute to Kobe Bryant, watch video
Jennifer Hudson, who opened the NBA All-Star 2020, paid a heart-wrenching tribute to the late basketball star, Kobe Bryant through her performance. Watch here
American singer and actor Jennifer Hudson opened the NBA All-star game night with a performance. Her tribute performance honoured late basketball player Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and the seven other victims who died in the tragic helicopter crash in January 2020. Jennifer Hudson sang the Donny Hathaway's classic For All We Know before the match began. Meanwhile, a slideshow of Kobe Bryant's pictures was playing in the background.
Watch the video below:
The Oscar-winning singer got choked up briefly at the beginning of the performance. Also, basketball icon and businessman Magic Johnson led an eight-second moment of silence to honour Kobe's first Laker jersey numbers, i.e 8 and 24. Before introducing and giving the centre court to Jennifer Hudson, Magic Johnson told the attendees that he wanted everyone to come together to honour Bryant and former NBA Commissioner David Stern.
Magic Johnson took the mike and praised Kobe Bryant. While giving the speech he said that the association will never see another basketball player quite like Kobe. Further, Johnson added that Kobe was passionate about being a great father, husband, filmmaker. The audience also gave a shoutout- “Kobe, Kobe, Kobe" during Johnson's speech.
Rapper Common also performed a spoken word tribute and highlighted Kobe's impact on both the Lakers and the sport of basketball as a whole. “He used his game to touch the world’s soul, a king named Kobe Bryant who wore purple and gold. 24 hours a day, you put in work… forget the salary, the 47-year-old songwriter rapped on the stage". As his performance progressed, he also added, "And that’s dedication and that’s the fight so even in the darkest times you’ll feel Kobe’s light,” in his rap.
(Cover Image Courtesy: Jennifer Hudson Instagram)
Updated 11:43 IST, February 17th 2020