Hoopers Hoopin' Hoops

31/01/2020

There's no place in our game for that...

Kyle Lowry mentioned he was shoved by a fan while trying to save a possession.

30/01/2020

: Some changes to the All-Star Game format, adding a Kobe Bryant tribute 🙏🏼

30/01/2020

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

EuroLeague players pay their own tribute to the late Kobe Bryant.

30/01/2020

: CSKA Moscow players paying a tribute to Kobe Bryant 🙏🏼

30/01/2020

These former NBAers in China, could soon move to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague or back to the NBA 👀

Read all the details ⬇️

Drastic measures have been taken by the CBA due to the outbreak of coronavirus in China, with players free to continue their season both in Europe and the NBA.

30/01/2020

Legendary coach Rick Pitino is a fan of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague star Mike James 👀

Should the New York Knicks take a closer look at signing him? 🤔✍🏼

29/01/2020

John Herbert Santiago, a 12th grade student from the Philippines, paid tribute to Kobe Bryant at Panipuan High School with this chalkboard art.

🙏

29/01/2020

Do it for Kobe 🙏🏼🏆

29/01/2020

Make it happen ❤️🙏🏼

29/01/2020

😭😭😭

Luka Doncic wrote the names of all the victims of the helicopter crash on his Kobe shoes.

29/01/2020

This breaks our hearts... 💔

The speech we’ll never get to hear.

(📷: VN Design)

28/01/2020

Spencer Dinwiddie will change his jersey number from No. 8 to No. 26 as a sign of respect to Kobe Bryant. Bryant passed away on January 26th.

Terrence Ross will also change his jersey number from No. 8 to No. 31 in honor of Kobe.

Other players have also reportedly decided to change their jersey numbers 🙏🏼

28/01/2020

NBA, your move is next 🙏🏼

Make that happen.

(📷: League Alerts)

28/01/2020

⁣A basketball court in the Philippines is painted to honor Kobe and Gigi. 🙏🏼⠀
⠀
(via pinoyhoops, iammikeswift/IG)

28/01/2020

Favorite Kobe Bryant moment? 👀🐍

Raining buckets, winning medals and making free throws while in pain.

28/01/2020

“I love you big bro” ❤️

LeBron James on Kobe Bryant:

28/01/2020

Giannis Antetokounmpo addresses the media for the first time since Kobe Bryant’s passing, holding back tears 😭📹

Giannis Antetokounmpo talked about Kobe Bryant and the influence he had on him and the whole world

28/01/2020

Praying for you, Vanessa 🙏🏼

28/01/2020

Forever in our hearts. ❤️

(📷: SLAM)

28/01/2020

One final conversation 🐐🙏🏼

27/01/2020

Giannis Antetokounmpo looks devastated while talking about Kobe Bryant. 🙏🏼

“Kobe means greatness”.

(📹: Milwaukee Bucks)

27/01/2020

Hug someone you love today. ❤️

27/01/2020

New details on Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crash⁉️
😱 The helicopter was operating under the “special visual flight rules”
🌫 Low clouds and fog may have played a role in the crash

While it's still unclear what exactly caused Kobe Bryant's helicopter to crash, the pilot received clearance to fly under foggy conditions

27/01/2020

This would be amazing... pass it on 🙏🏼

27/01/2020

Forever and always in our hearts ❤️

Kobe Bryant will get the place he deserves in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

27/01/2020

🚨 ATTENTION ALL HOOPERS 🚨

No more playing “21” in pick-up games. From now on we play “KOBE”

☑️ RULES: play by 2s and 1s to get to 24 and if you miss your 24th point, you go back to 8 👀🙏🏼

27/01/2020

Do it for Kobe 🏆🙏🏼

27/01/2020

An open letter to Kobe Bryant

—

Dear Kobe Bryant,

Thank you. Thank you for letting me dream. Thank you for showing me the way. Thank you for teaching me how to believe in myself; to think that anything is possible. Thank you for everything.

You were the reason I fell in love with the game of basketball. You were the reason I fell in love with sports. Ever since I started playing basketball, I looked up to you. At first, I looked up to you because of your incredible achievements on the court. Your scoring skills, All-Star appearances, All-NBA Teams, and eventually, your five championships. A natural born winner. I wanted to be just like you.

After your fifth championship with the Lakers, during my middle school and high school years, I started watching every game of yours live. Due to the fact that I was living in Greece, I used to wake up every other night at 5:30 just to watch your Lakers play. I absolutely loved it. My parents on the other hand, not so much. I was waking up at 5:00 and by 9:00 I had to be in school. I didn’t even need an alarm to wake up. I’ll always remember how my dad used to shout at me, complaining that I sleep in class in order to wake up at 5:00 and watch you play. I’ll always remember how one night, he turned off the Wi-Fi, and even changed the password in order for me to get back to sleep. That’s how much I loved watching you play. That’s how much I loved you.

I paid close attention to your passion, drive, mentality and tenacity. As you’ve said millions of times, you weren’t the most athletic player, nor the most talented one. You simply put in the work and succeeded. I’ll always remember my loud cheers in the middle of the night. Stressing out while you got the ball, about you missing shots, about the Lakers losing a game. I had a real connection with you. I thought I personally knew you.

Your Achilles injury came next. I was devastated. It was a Saturday morning here in Greece. I was watching your Lakers push for the playoffs, when suddenly, you went down for the third or fourth time that night, grabbing your Achilles. During your press-conference after the game, I couldn’t hold back the tears. I was devastated. I couldn’t believe it. I thought to myself, this can’t get worse.

And it just did.

Back in September, I was blessed enough to have the chance to talk to you, even through a question about Giannis Antetokounmpo, in China’s FIBA World Cup. I’ll always remember everything from that day. I remember me patiently waiting in the press-conference room in Beijing. I remember how my heart dropped when you walked in. I remember how I stood up, spoke into the microphone, and asked you the question. I remember how closely you paid attention to me, staring at me without losing focus. I remember how you answered the question with a smile on your face. It was a surreal moment I’ll never forget.

And now… to see you go like that, doesn’t feel real. It just doesn’t. To see your daughter, Gianna also go like that, is mind-blowing. Simply devastating. I cannot put what I’m feeling while I’m writing this letter into words. I’m praying for your family.

You’ll forever be in my heart.

Thank you for everything, Kobe Bean Bryant.

- Dionysis Aravantinos