Sports
Novak Djokovic Honors The Late Kobe Bryant After His 24th Grand Slam Win
Djokovic said Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in 2020 alongside his daughter and seven others, was a good friend.
September 12, 2023
Novak Djokovic won his 24th Grand Slam on Sunday and used the moment to honor someone else who had a connection to the number 24: Kobe Bryant, who wore the No. 24 jersey while playing for the Lakers.
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After beating Daniil Medvedev in the U.S Open final, Djokovic put on a shirt with a photo of Bryant and himself that read "Mamba Forever." While accepting his trophy and prize money, the tennis great explained the T-shirt's significance.
Djokovic said Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in 2020 alongside his daughter and seven others, was a good friend. "We chatted a lot about the winner's mentality," he said in the post-match interview on the winner's podium. "When I was struggling with the injury and trying to make my comeback – work my way back to the top of the game – he was one of the people that I relied on the most."
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