Beyonce kicks off LA memorial for Kobe Bryant and daughter

Beyonce kicked off a star-studded memorial ceremony in Los Angeles for basketball great Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna who died along with seven others in a helicopter crash last month.

"I'm here because I love Kobe," said the 70-time Grammy-nominated artist as she launched into one of Bryant's favorite songs "XO," dressed in a golden suit -- the color of the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant's team for two decades.

The public memorial -- dubbed "A Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" -- was being held at Staples Center, the arena where Bryant wowed fans for 17 years.

The 2/24 date for the memorial carries special significance as it coincides with Bryant's jersey number -- "24" -- and Gianna's "2" jersey number.

Fellow NBA legends Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell were among those attending the memorial on Monday along with Bryant family members and fans.

"It's hard in a two-minute, five-minute time to say everything he meant to the world, to the NBA and to basketball fans. He's bigger than life," Johnson said on Sunday.

"And it will take years to get over his passing and his daughter and the seven other people who lost their lives as well."
- 'He was my everything' -
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"He was the most amazing husband."
"I'll never get to see my baby girl walk down the aisle, have a father-daughter dance with her daddy."
"I watched him play from the beginning."
"I always picked Kobe to play in my video games. I couldn't leave home the day of his passing."