Kobe Bryant honored with intentional 24-second violations to start Celtics-Pelicans

By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com

Update: The Celtics and Pelicans officially honored Kobe Bryant to start Sunday’s game against the Pelicans. You can watch the teams’ intentional 24-second violations to pay tribute to Bryant’s No. 24 in the video above via the team.

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The show will go on in the NBA on Sunday, as the NBA continues on with its slate of games as the basketball world mourns the sudden and devastating loss of Kobe Bryant. But Sunday’s contests were not without tributes to the former five-time NBA champion, who died Sunday in a helicopter accident at age 41.

Watch below (via

Both the @Raptors and the @spurs ran out the 24-second shot clock on their first possession of the game in honour of Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/JhD8XVUGFo

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 26, 2020" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Sportsnet) to see how the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors honored Bryant, who wore No. 24 for the final 10 seasons of his 20-year career. Each team took an intentional 24-second shot clock violation to start the game, as the crowd chanted Bryant’s name.

According to 98.5 The Sports Hub’s

I have been told that both the Celtics and the Pelicans will take 24 second violations to start the game to honor Kobe Bryant.

In addition, the Pelicans will have a 24 second moment of silence before the game.

— Jon Wallach (@KenGriffeyRules) January 26, 2020" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Jon Wallach, who is doing play-by-play for Sunday’s Celtics game against the New Orleans Pelicans, both teams also intend to take intentional 24-second violations to start the game at Smoothie King Center.

Bryant played 31 career regular season games against the Celtics, averaging 25.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. He won NBA Finals MVP in 2010 after the Lakers defeated the Celtics in seven games.

Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at [email protected].