An emotional Paul had that in mind when he called NBA commissioner Adam Silver in the aftermath of a helicopter crash and tragedy that took the life of Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others on Jan. 26. It was three weeks before the All-Star Game in Chicago, and Paul expressed his desire for the league's players to honor Bryant.
That's exactly what Paul and the NBA did in Chicago on Sunday night. Team LeBron earned a comeback 157-155 win over Team Giannis in a highly competitive, hotly contested 69th NBA All-Star Game, which featured a revamped format with a target score to reach at game's end. In this case, the target was 157 points -- the 133 points that Team Giannis had at the end of the third quarter plus 24 more points, which was a tribute to the number Bryant wore.
"It was tough early," said Paul, whose Team LeBron wore Gigi's No. 2 on their jerseys. "Especially early. A lot of it was still surreal.
"The best way we could honor Kobe, Gigi and everyone involved was to play like we played."
The overhauled game also featured a charitable component. The winning team of each of the first three quarters earned $100,000 for the charity it was playing for. Team LeBron represented Chicago Scholars, and Team Giannis played on behalf of After School Matters.
That aspect really spiced up the competition. Each team and charity won a quarter in the first half. The teams battled to a 41-41 draw in the third quarter, which featured quality defensive effort and two timeouts called late in the frame to set up plays and advance the ball. The $100,000 pot then rolled over to the fourth quarter in which $300,000 was already at stake, and that's when the intensity really picked up.
The exhibition showcase produced intensity that rivaled a Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and others locked in defensively. Shot after shot was heavily contested at the rim.
With his Team Giannis trailing 154-153, Kyle Lowry successfully drew a charge. On the other end of the floor, players from both teams had to be separated as the action became heated. The game was decided after Lowry was called for a foul on Anthony Davis while trying to deny a post-entry pass from James. Leading 156-155, the Chicago product Davis hit the second free throw to give Team LeBron the win.
As the winning free throw went through the net, children from Chicago Scholars rushed the court to celebrate with Team LeBron as their organization won $400,000. After School Matters received $100,000 thanks to Team Giannis.
"I didn't know what to expect because it was a new format, new year," James said. "None of us knew what to expect. But throughout the whole fourth quarter and the end of the game, everybody was like, 'That was pretty damn fun.'"
Antetokounmpo, whose team wore Bryant's No. 24, said he felt out of breath playing a fourth quarter that ran 49 minutes in real time.
"I loved it," he said.
The game's leading scorer was Kawhi Leonard, who posted 30 points and earned the newly renamed All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award.
When Paul called Silver three weeks ago just as news began spread of Bryant's death, he was overcome with emotion. But as the president of the NBA players' union, Paul wanted to do right by Bryant's legacy. The hope for Paul and Silver was that the NBA could come together to begin the healing process.
The games played in the days following Bryant's death featured emotional tributes across the NBA landscape, including a moving ceremony at the Staples Center as the Lakers took the court five days later. That tribute ended with James offering a eulogy to a friend and former competitor.
This All-Star Game offered one more tribute to Bryant and his legacy -- a fiercely competitive night in which a victory truly meant something to the game's best players.
"He's one of the greatest basketball players, one of the most impactful players," James said of Bryant. "And the inspiration he has, it's showing. How many people not only in the basketball world, but also outside of the basketball world, that were touched by a person such as himself.
"It's a beautiful time. It's a beautiful day. And his presence was felt here in Chicago."