LeBron James Explains Why He Decided on Wearing Gianna Bryant's Number for NBA All-Star Game
Team Giannis will wear No. 24 to pay tribute to Kobe.
The NBA has several Kobe and Gianna Bryant tributes planned for this All-Star weekend. This includes Team Giannis wearing No. 24 jerseys to honor Kobe while Team LeBron will don No. 2 jerseys to pay homage to Gianna. When asked why he decided to have his team wear Gianna's number, LeBron James gave an answer that alluded to their shared positions as fathers.
"LeBron said the league asked him if he wanted his team to wear 24 or 2 for the All Star game," Los Angeles Times reporter Tania Ganguli tweeted. "He picked 2, the number Gianna Bryant wore. Why? 'Zhuri.'"
Zhuri James is LeBron's only daughter and the youngest member of the "James Gang." Although fans assumed Kobe wanted a son, he was open about the fun he had raising his four daughters. When remembering her favorite exchange with Bryant, ESPN reporter Elle Duncan recalled Kobe telling her how much he loved being a "girl dad."
Unfortunately, Kobe's daughter, Gianna, was on the helicopter with him when the fatal crash happened. This passion he had for being a father in addition to the tragic passing of Kobe and Gianna turned Duncan's story into a trending topic. Now, fans and players are showing how fulfilling it is to be a father with daughters by using the hashtag "#GirlDad." This led James to show that he too is a #GirlDad and that Kobe was "more than an athlete" by donning Gianna Bryant's number.
The NBA All-Star game will go down later this month on February 16.
