The tragic death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash last month left the world mourning his loss and millions of fans considering the legacy he left behind.
“Inside the NBA” hosts Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson spoke in an exclusive interview with TODAY’s Craig Melvin Friday about the Lakers legend and how he will be remembered ahead of the NBA All-Star game this weekend.
Barkley said that although he and Bryant were not friends, he was devastated by the loss. Bryant’s daughter Gianna, 13, was among the nine victims of the crash.
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“Me and Kobe were not close,” Barkley said. “But I just started crying when I got the news. I felt like I had lost a member of my family.”
O’Neal, Barkley and Smith also weighed in on whether it was appropriate after Bryant’s death to report on the 2003 sexual assault charge. The criminal charges were later dropped, and Bryant settled a separate civil lawsuit with his accuser out of court.
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