2020 ESPYs Features Heartfelt Kobe Bryant Tribute From Former Laker Pau Gasol

Six months had passed since the death of the legendary Kobe Bryant and tributes are still pouring in. This time, former teammate Pau Gasol pays tribute to the late Los Angeles Lakers player during the 2020 ESPY Awards last Sunday.

According to E! Online, the former Laker related how Kobe spent 20 years with the Lakers franchise and used those to strive to become the best player in the world. He also said in the speech that there was a side to the Lakers legend not many saw – him being a husband to wife Vanessa Bryant and a father to his children Natalia, Gianna, Bianka and Capri.

Gianna was with him on the ill-fated chopper crash that took their lives.

Gasol said that Bryant always had a special smile while talking about his family. He said that for many, Bryant may be one of the greatest players of all time, but he was also one of the best dads of all time. Gasol wrapped up his message by saying that Bryant's legacy lives on forever in the streets of LA, a city that the late basketball superstar loved so much.

The Kobe Bryant tribute wasn’t the only highlight of the evening. According to Bleacher Report, the awards show veered away from tradition as hosts Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe and Russell Wilson put the Black Lives Matter movement in the limelight. The hosts called for social justice, using the platform to call out social issues and the end of racism in the opening minutes.

It was also a night to honor those whose lives were affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Many championship events in the United States were canceled and graduating seniors missed their chance to fight for their schools in their final year.

Tom Brady and Robin Roberts paid tribute during the event to these seniors, which included Sabrina Ionescu and Cassius Winston.

The night was capped by Snoop Dogg performing “A Tribute to Kobe,” which highlighted the many murals that popped up all over Los Angeles. These were seen as an effort of the city to give back to the late basketball player and to immortalize his many accolades.