During the Wednesday pro-am, former NBA player J.R. Smith wrote “Kobe,” “Mamba” and “Gigi” on his shoes. Gary Woodland, a former basketball player himself, was candid about his respect for Bryant not only on the court, but also as a proud father to four girls.
“Kobe’s basketball stats and everything he did on the basketball court, I think speak for themselves,” Gary Woodland said. “But for me personally, when I think of Kobe now I think of the images of him with his daughter, with Gigi, on the basketball court, talking to her, getting back into the game because of her and the love she had for it.”
Woodland also said he would pay tribute to Bryant this weekend with his shoes.
The U.S. Open champion is not the only one paying respects to Bryant with his shoes. Bryson DeChambeau played the opening round with purple and gold eights painted on the back of his Puma shoes, while Tony Finau’s purple and gold Nikes paid their own homage to Bryant. Finau tweeted “RIP Black Mamba. You are sorely missed,” on Sunday evening.
