Sabrina Ionescu: ‘Hopefully’ Inspired People with Kobe Bryant Memorial Speech

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New York Liberty point guard Sabrina Ionescu, who spoke at Kobe and Gianna Bryant's Celebration of Life in February, reflected on that experience with Turner Sports' Ernie Johnson on Tuesday:

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“I hopefully was just able to inspire everyone to have that same feeling I did with him.”

@sabrina_i20 reflects on speaking at Kobe’s memorial service on #NBATogether with @TurnerSportsEJ https://t.co/WVkrXmfFDs

Ionescu, a former University of Oregon star, developed a friendship with the Los Angeles Lakers legend, who died in a helicopter crash with his daughter and seven others on January 26.

After she was drafted No. 1 overall to the Libs in the 2020 WNBA draft, Ionescu posted the following tribute to Bryant on Instagram:

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Sabrina reflects on her friendship with Kobe after going #1 💜💛

(📸 via @sabrina_i20 / IG) https://t.co/UY2poiuvG3

As noted by Emily Carson of Sporting News, Bryant and Ionescu met in January 2019 after the Ducks beat the USC Trojans 95-53.

Later that summer, Ionescu helped coach Bryant's AAU team, the Mamba Ballers. And during the 2019-20 season, Ionescu and Bryant kept in touch as the Oregon point guard nearly averaged a triple-double for the year en route to winning the Naismith Player of the Year and AP Player of the Year awards for the Pac-12-winning Ducks.

Ionescu was among a host of luminaries to speak at the Celebration of Life, including NBA legends Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal and Bryant's wife, Vanessa.

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