As a tribute to Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old Gianna, and the seven others who died in the Calabasas helicopter crash last month, a North Carolina man Fletcher Collins created an honorary casket.
According to ABC 7, It is themed in Lakers purple and gold. It features pictures of Kobe, Gianna, and Lakers fans. It also has a replica of the Lakers basketball court adorned with five Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophies–the same number of NBA titles Kobe won during his career.
Although a private funeral was held for Kobe and Gianna on February 7, a public memorial to honor the Mamba and Mambacita was held on February 24, 2020, at the Staples Center in LA. Many close friends such as Michael Jordan, Rob Pelinka, and Shaq about Kobe as a man and father and a fierce competitor on the court.
As previously reported, Shaq shared a story about the day Kobe gained his respect. “The day Kobe gained my respect was. guys were complaining. They said, ‘Shaq Kobe’s not passing the ball.’ I said I’ll talk to him. I said, ‘Kobe there’s no I in team,’ and Kobe said, I know but there’s an M-E in that m*therf*cker.”
