Neymar: The Chaos': Brazil forward pays tribute to late Kobe Bryant, calls him his 'idol'
When it was reported that former Los Angeles Lakers superstar, Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi was killed in a chopper crash, it plunged the world into grief, and also mourning among the many was Brazil forward, Neymar Jr. His Netflix documentary, 'Neymar: The Chaos' had a segment where he pays a rich tribute to the late NBA legend.
Dressed in Kobe's 24 Lakers jersey and shorts, Neymar recollects the time when news of the crash and the death broke. The scene immediately shifts to Neymar and Brazil's Volleyball star Brunhino reacting to Kobe's death. "Bro, it was so random you know? I said, "what the f*** was that?" He added: "It was the halftime. We had the second half. What can a coach say at halftime then? It was overwhelming. We kept thinking and wondering..."
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The docu also shows clips of Neymar and Kobe interacting during a Nike shoot commercial and the PSG star also presenting his jersey to the Lakers star. "He had been in Paris and we had done a Nike shoot together," he said. "To me, it was one of the best moments I had with an idol of mine. An icon, a legend, you know? It was a very special moment. He's not a random dude out there, he left a legacy. He projected the image he wanted. It was pretty heavy, we were all down that day."
January 26 marks two years since the death of the iconic player and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, along with the pilot and six others in Calabasas. Kobe and his daughter are survived by his wife, Vanessa Bryant, and their three kids: Natalia, Bianka, and Capri. Shortly after news of their deaths broke, ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols had to fight back tears while remembering a moment when she had witnessed the bond between the pair.
“The way he loved being on the court with (Gigi and his elder daughter Natalia, 17), talking with people like me, bragging about them, and teaching them the game and sharing that part of his love with them,” she said. “That was Kobe Bryant these days. He was somebody who loved his kids and loved the world and what was open to him for it.”
'Neymar: The Chaos' is currently streaming on Netflix.