Kudo’s to Randle for getting up to play the game. He had a personal connection with Kobe being teammates for two years. I’m sure some players did, and others he was their idol.
They did the right thing by playing. Its hard. The game made Kobe and Kobe contributed to it. He will be honored appropriately.
I remember when Thurman Munson died. He was still an active player in his prime. It was shocking. Magic retiring with Aids was shocking. Kobe was many things. By the end of his career he had redeemed to make good on his marriage and owned his mistakes. I admired him for the maturity he grew into. He was a difficult teammate at times but his intensity and drive was incredible. Not always universally loved but he was respected.
I saw a recent interview and he really was a peace with his life and stature outside the game. That should give is fans comfort.
Life comes at you fast and can be taken in a blink. Enjoy it!!!

I think of my 2 cousins who died in a small plane crash. One was a flight instructor. Very qualified. Shyt happens.
The 3rd survived after 2 years of hell. 25 years later still laments "I should have drove, we didn't have to do it". Nobody see's it coming.
We tell her it might have been a car accident, no way to know.
My parents backed out at the last minute to Atlantic City with Friends who were going to dinner and a show. Pilot had a health issue upon landing and all perished. My dad had a head cold.
Those friends were life long ones. It hurts.
There is an emptiness about small craft crash. Its a luxury. Seemingly in the aftermath an anger for the family to reconcile that it was just not necessary. Its internal and no way to reconcile it or lay "blame". It happens and it hurts. I've been at the epicenter of it twice.
What stings the most is the death of a child. Kobe's wife is hurting today. Devastated. She is angry too. Not the kind of blame anger, just that empty feeling. An illness prepares you for an enviable and one can have some reconcilable resemblance with a religious faith or science when the body fails to fight a disease. Nothing worse then losing a child. Kobe did not protect his child. Its not his fault, but she is angry. They lived in the fast lane with privilege and it failed them at the very core. Kobe I have no doubt would have done anything if he could. Its not his fault. The odds were with them. It was not him being reckless. At the same time there is a guilt that a parent could have done more. Its part of the tragedy that that family will forever be affected. As a parent that hits me hard! Im sad about Kobe passing, but devastated for Giannas siblings and her mother. Famous or not, its a special kind of tragic when a child dies in an accident. There were others on that craft. Some where someone's child was shot, or a daughter abducted never to be seen again and the family left to imagine the horror of how that life might still survive. And the wonder if they could have done more.
I can see if Lakers had a game it should be canceled. Fact is he was not an active teammate. No team should have to endure playing a game on the same day a teammate dies. Kobe was larger than life but we can't stop the games every time a retired player passes away no matter the circumstances. He is and will be properly honored. Im sure they will do something in LA as a memorial at the right time.

I'm watching the game now. The team, in general, and Randle in particular are playing much better since the coaching change. Randle is better defensively and not as careless on the offensive end.