More than 20,000 people packed the Staples Center on Monday to pay tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna, along with seven others. Thousands more also lined up outside of the building during the memorial service, wearing their Kobe jerseys. The memorial service was highlighted by speeches and performances from various entertainers, athletes and many other prominent names.

1. Beyoncé opens the memorial by dedicating “XO” and “Halo" to Kobe. 

“I’m here because I love Kobe,” the singer said as she opened her performance, surrounded by a choir wearing white suits.

Beyoncé’s rendition of "Halo" ended with chants of “Kobe” from the crowd.


2. Kobe’s wife, Vanessa, expressed her love for her late husband and daughter.

“I can’t imagine life without [Gianna],” Vanessa said. “I will miss your sweet handmade cards, your sweet kisses and your gorgeous smile.”

Vanessa said Gianna naturally gravitated to her father, but she also loved her mother. Gianna baked cookies and loved watching Survivor, Disney and NBA games with her father.

"Gigi was very competitive like her daddy, but Gianna had a very sweet grace about her," she said. "Her smile was like sunshine."

Vanessa said she was looking forward to watching her daughter learn to drive, get married, have children and play in the WNBA, which, unfortunately, she will no longer be able to do.

"She would have made a huge difference for women’s basketball," Vanessa said. "Gigi was motivated to change the way women were viewed in sports."


3. The Lakers general manager told the story of Kobe learning to play Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” in a week for Vanessa.

Lakers GM Rob Pelinka shared an anecdote about Kobe learning the Beethoven classic and mastering the piece within a week. Pelinka’s speech was followed by Alicia Keys' rendition of “Moonlight Sonata," which ended with more chants of “Kobe.”

4. NBA legend Michael Jordan risked birthing another crying meme.

The NBA icon broke the internet when he poked fun at himself, referencing the famous meme of him crying during his hall of fame speech.

“I’m gonna have to see another crying meme for the next four years,” Jordan said as he was sobbing on the podium.

Prior to that, he talked about "aggravating" late-night calls he'd receive from a Kobe eager to perfect his craft. 

“I just wanted to be the best big brother that I could be. I had to put up with the aggravation, the late-night calls, the dumb questions,” Jordan said.


5. There's no "I" in team, but…

The memorial service continued with a speech from Kobe's former teammate and close friend, Shaquille O’Neal who recalled a time when he told the father that “there is no ‘I' in team" after complaints from Kobe's teammates that he wouldn't pass the ball. O’Neal said Kobe responded, saying "I know but there's a 'M-E' in that motherf**ker."

May Kobe, Gianna and all others who perished in the January 26 crash rest in peace and power.