En la víspera del tributo que los Lakers y la NBA rendirán a Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson habló con elocuencia sobre cómo la muerte del icónico jugador afectó a los fanáticos del baloncesto en Los Ángeles y en todo el mundo.
Bryant, su hija Gianna, de 13 años, y otras siete personas murieron el mes pasado en un accidente de helicóptero en Calabasas.
“Va a ser difícil para la ciudad seguir adelante”, reflexionó Johnson. “... es difícil decir en dos minutos, en cinco minutos, todo lo que él significaba para el mundo, para la NBA, para los fanáticos del baloncesto, porque él es más grande que su propia vida. Tomará un largo año superarlo y sobreponerse también por su hija y las otras siete personas que perdieron la vida”.
Este lunes por la mañana se realizó la “Celebración de la vida para Kobe y Gigi Bryant”, en el Staples Center.
Johnson habló el domingo temprano en el Staples Center, antes de que los Lakers jugaran contra los Celtics en un evento que el dueño de la escuadra de Los Ángeles, Jeanie Buss, y el dueño del equipo de Boston, Wyc Grousbeck, organizaron para celebrar una de las mejores rivalidades en la NBA y en los deportes.
Bill Russell, considerado el mejor Celtic de la historia debido a sus 11 campeonatos de la NBA, también estuvo en el evento y mostró su aprecio por Bryant al usar su camiseta, la número 24.
Los ex Lakers Michael Cooper y Kurt Rambis, y los ex Celtics Cedric Maxwell y Brian Scalabrine, fueron parte del panel que habló sobre sus tiempos de competencia, con esa rivalidad.
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Lakers star Kobe Bryant pauses for a moment as confetti streams down at the Staples Center following his final game on April 13, 2016. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant, the teenager obtained by the Lakers in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets, takes part in an ad shoot for Adidas at Will Rogers State Beach. (Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant was already shooting his first commercial before taking his first shot for the Lakers. (Los Angeles Times)
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Laker rookie Kobe Bryant, 18, listens to coach Del Harris during a break in a 129-99 victory over the Washington Bullets at the Forum. Bryant scored 13 points. (Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant drives against Utah center Greg Ostertag in the Western Conference Finals at the Forum in Inglewood. Utah won 109-98 to give the Jazz a 3-0 lead in the series. (Paul Morse / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant is dejected after losing the ball late in the second half of Game 3 of the 1999 Western Conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs at the Forum. The Lakers lost, 103-91, giving the Spurs a 3-0 advantage in the series. The Spurs went on to win the series 4-0. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant drives past Chris Webber in Game 4 of the first round of the 2000 Western Conference playoffs at Arco Arena in Sacramento. The Kings won, 101-88, but the Lakers went on to win the series in five games and advanced to face the Phoenix Suns in the next round. (Bob Galbraith / Associated Press)
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Despite Jason Kidd’s hand in his face, Kobe Bryant puts up the winning shot in the Lakers’ 97-96 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Arena. The Lakers won the series, 4-1. (K.C. Alfred / Associated Press)
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Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal had a moment to relax after winning their first title together in the 2000 NBA Finals. The two kicked back after a 116-111 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 at Staples Center. Bryant is holding the championship trophy and O’Neal has his Finals MVP trophy. (Paul Morse / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant performs on stage at the House of Blues in West Hollywood in 2000 during a celebration of the launch of his record label, Heads High Entertainment. (Clarence Williams / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant is swarmed by teammates Derek Fisher, Rick Fox and Shaquille O’Neal as he heads to the foul line in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Bryant scored 45 points as the Lakers beat the Spurs, 104-90, on their way to a sweep of the series. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant goes up for a dunk in the second quarter against the San Antonio Spurs during Game 3 of the 2001 Western Conference finals at Staples Center. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)
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Lakers players Kobe Bryant, left, Lindsey Hunter and Shaquille O’Neal celebrate their NBA title victory over the New Jersey Nets on June 12, 2002. (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant, with his wife, Vanessa, at his side, holds a news conference at Staples Center in 2003 to discuss accusations by a 19-year-old Colorado woman that he sexually assaulted her. He conceded he was guilty of adultery, but he declared he was innocent of charges of felonious sexual assault. The charges were later dropped. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)
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Los Angeles Lakers Karl Malone, left, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton and Shaquille O’Neal before their preseason opener with the Los Angeles Clippers. It was Bryant’s first game since sexual assault charges were filed against him in Colorado. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant, left, looks at his defense attorney Pamela Mackey as he is advised by Eagle County Judge Frederick Gannett during his felony sexual assault hearing in Eagle, Colo., on Aug. 6, 2003. (Barry Gutierrez / Associated Press)
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Hours after pleading not guilty to a felony sexual assault charge in Colorado, an exhausted Kobe Bryant is congratulated by teammate Derek Fisher after the Lakers beat the San Antonio Spurs, 98-90, in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center. Bryant scored 42 points as the Lakers tied the series at 2-2. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant writhes in pain after injuring his right ankle during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 13, 2005, in Los Angeles. Bryant was injured when he landed awkwardly on his right foot while going for a rebound under the Cavaliers’ basket and had to be helped off the court. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant and his new backcourt partner, William “Smush” Parker, during a 2005 preseason game against Utah at the Anaheim Pond. (Los Angeles Times)
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Lakers star Kobe Bryant stands next to coach Phil Jackson during a playoff game against the Phoenix Suns in April 2006. (Matt York / Associated Press)
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Kobe Bryant walks off the court with his wife, Vanessa, and daughter Natalia after scoring a career-high 81 points in a Lakers win over the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center on Jan. 22, 2006. (Noah Graham / NBAE/Getty Images)
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Lakers star Kobe Bryant scores in front of Toronto’s Matt Bonner on his way to scoring 81 points during the Lakers’ 122-104 victory on Jan. 22, 2006. (Matt A. Brown / Associated Press)
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Kobe Bryant celebrates the Lakers’ victory over the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant celebrates after winning his fourth NBA title following the Lakers’ win over the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of the 2009 NBA Finals. (Emmanuel Dunand /AFP/Getty Images)
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Kobe Bryant celebrates the Lakers’ Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant holds the NBA championship trophy during the team’s 2010 NBA title victory parade. (David McNew / Getty Images)
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Kobe Bryant shows off what he can do with a basketball during an event in Milan, Italy, in September 2011. (Luca Bruno / Associated Press)
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Lakers guard Kobe Bryant goes up for a shot over New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler during a game in December 2011. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
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U.S. players Kevin Durant, left, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant celebrate after winning the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. (Charles Krupa / Associated Press)
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Kobe Bryant writhes in pain after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during a game against the Golden State Warriors on April 12, 2013. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant warms up before playing against the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 8, 2013, in his first game back from a torn Achilles tendon. (Harry How / Getty Images)
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Kobe Bryant is congratulated by teammates after passing Michael Jordan on the NBA’s all-time scoring list during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 14, 2014. (Jeff Wheeler / TNS)
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Lakers star Kobe Bryant goes to hug his family after his final NBA game on April 13, 2016. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant poses with his family after getting his jerseys retired before a game between the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on Dec. 18, 2017. (Chris Carlson / Associated Press)
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Lakers legend Kobe Bryant walks off the court after his jersey retirement ceremony at the Staples Center in 2017. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant smiles after winning an Academy Award for best animated short film for “Dear Basketball” on March 4, 2018. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Kobe Bryant shares a laugh with his daughter Gianna while attending a women’s basketball game between Long Beach State and Oregon on Dec. 14, 2019. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / Associated Press)
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Lakers star Kobe Bryant watches a tribute video at Staples Center before the final game of his career on April 13, 2016. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Johnson se abrió paso en el salón después de que el grupo comenzara a hablar, pero no le tomó mucho tiempo expresarse sobre Bryant. “Le encantaba la organización de los Lakers. Amaba a Jeanie. Amaba al [ex propietario de los Lakers] Dr. [Jerry] Buss”, afirmó.
Johnson recordó cómo Bryant anotó 81 puntos en su carrera contra los Toronto Raptors y 60 contra los Utah Jazz en el partido que cerró sus 20 años de carrera con los Lakers. “¿Quién marca 60 y tantos en su último juego? Fue sorprendente”, dijo Johnson. “Todas las noches podía ocurrir algo que nunca volverías a ver”.
Johnson se maravilló de cómo Bryant estaba “viviendo sus mejores años después del baloncesto” mientras trabajaba con Gianna en sus habilidades deportivas, se involucraba en deportes femeninos y entrenaba a los jugadores actuales de la NBA. “Su relación con sus hijas, con su esposa, el trabajo en la comunidad... Le interesaba el atletismo femenino, la WNBA”, detalló Johnson. “Entrenaba con todos. La lista de jugadores con los que este hombre trabajó: Kawhi [Leonard], Kyrie Irving, [Jayson] Tatum de los Celtics, y así sucesivamente. Le daba su tiempo y su conocimiento del juego a todos estos jugadores jóvenes. Y yo adoraba su relación con sus chicas y su esposa. Ellos venían a los partidos de los L.A. Sparks”.
Johnson recordó cómo el entonces gerente general de los Lakers, Jerry West, elogió a Bryant después de que el guardia de 17 años mostró una excelente rutina contra Cooper, quien había sido un jugador defensivo duro de los Lakers durante la década de 1980. “Jerry dijo que era el mejor entrenamiento que habían visto de alguien”, evocó Johnson. “Con sólo pensar en la historia de los Lakers uno podía decir ‘¡Bien, guau!’. Y así llegó como novato, con el compromiso de ser grandioso, de trabajar fuerte todos los días; se levantaba a las tres o las cuatro de la mañana y hacía un entrenamiento de dos horas. Luego venía aquí y entrenaba con los Lakers. Estaba comprometido a dominar el juego, y lo hizo”.
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