LA Clippers vs. LA Lakers matchup to be postponed

The NBA has announced that Tuesday’s game between the LA Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers has been postponed.

In light of the tragic loss of former NBA star Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others, the NBA has decided to postpone the Clippers vs. Lakers matchup which was slated to be played on Tuesday to give those affected more time to recover.

The entire basketball world mourned on Sunday when Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant and seven others passed away in a helicopter crash in Calabasas.

Games were still played on Sunday as many of the NBA’s stars such as Kawhi Leonard, Trae Young, and Devin Booker played despite the loss of a close friend and hero.

The Los Angeles Lakers played the Philadelphia 76ers on the Saturday night before the tragedy and landed back in Los Angeles to hear the news on Sunday morning. The NBA has decided to postpone the January 28th matchup between the LA Lakers and LA Clippers in light of Kobe’s passing.

This does not come as much of a surprise from the NBA to make this move as the Lakers and Clippers had already made decisions to cancel Monday practices and the shoot around before the matchup on Tuesday.

The impact that Kobe Bryant had on these two teams was immense, as LeBron James had just surpassed the Bryant on the NBA all-time scoring list the night before and Clippers’ stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George grew up watching and idolizing the Lakers star.

Leonard had this to say after the Clippers’ victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday.

Doc Rivers, who coached the Boston Celtics against Bryant in two NBA finals was visibly distraught as well during his pregame interview before coaching on Sunday.

James and Bryant were very close as well and James did not hear about the news until the Lakers team plane landed back in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon and he was seen embracing multiple close friends as he heard he had lost one of his closest friends.

The game was scheduled to be broadcast on TNT, the employer of friend and former teammate Shaquille O’Neal, who of course was hit hard with the news as well. The NBA has not released more information on when the game will be rescheduled but is postponing the game out of respect for the Bryant family, the Lakers and Clippers organizations and fans of both teams and the NBA.

The Clippers and Lakers are scheduled to play two more matchups this season before the postseason with each team getting a home game. The Lakers next matchup is scheduled to be on Friday against the Portland Trailblazers, a home game in Staples Center. The Clippers meanwhile are scheduled to play again on Thursday in a home game against the Sacramento Kings.

It is times like these where we need to realize that every day could be our last here on Earth. Our lives could change at the snap of a finger and life is indeed random. Kobe Bryant was not only a transcendent athlete on the basketball court but he was also an amazing father, influencer, coach and husband to his amazing wife Vanessa.

His game on and off the court influenced millions to chase their dreams and seeing the love for him spread has warmed my heart because I grew up watching him play, albeit rooting against him. Hug someone you love today and everyday to follow. RIP Kobe Bryant.