Kobe Bryant memorial: NBA star's Oscar-winning movie played after Michael Jordan gives tearful speech

Vanessa Bryant gives moving speech about her husband and daughter

Thousands of mourners gathered at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Monday for a public memorial to honour Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and the seven others who lost their lives in a helicopter crash last month.

The service – named The Celebration of Life – opened with a performance by Beyonce of two songs the fallen basketball player loved. Host Jimmy Kimmel then gave an emotional speech about the tragedy before introducing Mr Bryant's wife, Vanessa Bryant.

Speakers for the event included Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe's former agent Rob Pelinka, and college basketball star Sabrina Ionescu.

The Celebration of Life also saw performances from Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera.

Dear Basketball, an animated short created by Kobe Bryant and won him an Oscar, was then played for the arena of 20,000 before the memorial ended.

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