Kobe Bryant Tribute Game 2nd Most Watched in ESPN NBA History
The game Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers averaged 4.41 million viewers.
By Associated Press ••
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks during the pregame ceremony to honor Kobe Bryant before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on January 31, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
The Los Angeles Lakers' first game since Kobe Bryant's death was the second-most watched regular-season NBA game on ESPN.
The game Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers averaged 4.41 million viewers. The only telecast to surpass that since ESPN resumed NBA coverage in 2002-03 was a January 2003 game between the Lakers and Houston Rockets that featured the first matchup between Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming (4.88 million).
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Two court-side seats were left open in memory of Kobe and Gianna Bryant at the first Lakers game since the father and daughter were killed in a helicopter crash.
Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA
Every seat at Staples Center was draped with a Bryant T-shirt during their first game since the Lakers legend’s death.
Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA
Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA
Anthony Davis ahead of the Lakers’ first game since the death of franchise legend Kobe Bryant.
Shahan Ahmed/NBCLA
Usher sings “Amazing Grace” ahead of the Lakers’ first game since the death of Kobe Bryant.
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LeBron James honored Kobe Bryant in front of thousands at Staples Center with a touching tribute.
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Fans pay respects to Kobe Bryant at a vigil outside Staples Center ahead of a tribute planned in honor of the basketball star and the eight other victims of a helicopter crash.
Shahan Ahmed
Fans pay respects to Kobe Bryant at a vigil outside Staples Center ahead of a tribute planned in honor of the basketball star and the eight other victims of a helicopter crash.
According to Nielsen, the Bryant pregame ceremony averaged 5.23 million viewers. The audience peaked at 6.07 million between 10:45 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern, which was the conclusion of the ceremony and the start of the game.
By comparison, a game between Houston and the Denver Nuggets scheduled during a similar time slot last year averaged 1.6 million.
The "Hoop Streams" pregame — which was streamed between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern — had a record 2.4 million views, according to the network. The show is streamed on ESPN.com and its app as well as Twitter and YouTube.
