Photos: Celtics Players Pay Homage To Kobe With Special Forearm Bands

The Boston Celtics are playing Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers. This will be yet another game full of tributes. Celtics players honored the Black Mamba by wearing special forearm bands. Purple, of course.

This wasn’t the only tribute for the big legend. Celtics great and NBA legend Bill Russell wore a Kobe Bryant jersey to the Staples Center on Sunday afternoon as the teams were getting ready for the game.

Russell has always been one of the foremost ambassadors in the game. This time he got over the rivalry and paid homage to the Black Mamba. Kobe was among the nine victims killed in the helicopter crash outside of Calabasas on Jan. 26.

Russell released a statement right after the news of Bryant’s death broke. He said Kobe was “one of my favorite people” while extending his condolences to his family.

Russell is one of the many Celtics players who respect the big Kobe

Kobe respected Russell as a player and a leader. On one occasion, he talked about him and all the things he taught him. According to Kobe, Russell has been an unbelievable mentor who understands leadership, team dynamics and experience. Russell was able to manage the teams that he played on despite all the difficulties he faced. As Bryant said, Russell “has been an unbelievable voice in my ear.”

Russell and Bryant may have played for rival teams, but they were lynchpins of their respective teams. They finished their careers as two of the best winners in the history of sports.

Sunday’s game between Boston and LA carries extra weight in the NBA world.

The game precedes a memorial for Kobe and his daughter Gianna that will be held on Monday. The Celtics delayed their flight out of LA so players and coaches can attend Kobe and Gianna’s memorial.

A lot of stars will attend Sunday’s game, and Russell is one of them.

Kobe Bryant will be remembered as one of the greatest basketball minds in the history of sports. He was brilliant on and off the court. Many young players considered him an icon. His name will always find a spot in the greatest basketball stories. That’s what the Mamba Mentality was all about.