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Jennifer Hudson Sings Her Heart Out In Moving Tribute To Kobe Bryant At NBA All-Star Game

Mary Papenfuss
Updated ·3-min read

Grammy award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson belted out a heartbreaking tribute to Kobe Bryant before the National Basketball Association’s 2020 All-Star Game Sunday evening in Chicago three weeks after the sports legend’s tragic death in a helicopter crash.

Hudson sang “For All We Know,” standing before giant photos of Bryant tearing up the court — and embracing his children.

“We will never see another basketball player quite like Kobe,” Magic Johnson said before the game as fans chanted the Laker legend’s name and kept an eight-second moment of silence in honor of Bryant’s jersey No. 8. “He was passionate about being a great father, husband, filmmaker.”

Before the game, Common also gave a moving tribute, highlighting Bryant’s legacy. “Even in the darkest times, you’ll feel Kobe’s light,” he said.

Halftime performances featured Chance the Rapper, Quavo, Lil Wayne and DJ Khaled.

Earlier Sunday, the NBA released a powerful video tribute to Bryant by Dr. Dre that also highlighted touching moments with Bryant’s children and his Mamba moves. Dre was recruited, along with videographer Gibson Hazard and Jack Bannon, to do the video by the NBA.

Bryant died with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, six other passengers and the pilot when the helicopter he was traveling in went down in hilly terrain near Calabasas, California, on Jan. 26. No one survived.

When the game got started, players on LeBron James’ team wore Gianna’s No. 2 on their jerseys. The rival team, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, wore 24, Bryant’s number during the latter half of his time with the Los Angeles Lakers.

In Bryant’s honor, the All-Star Game MVP award was permanently renamed the NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player. Bryant won the award four times, tied for the most ever.

The game was also revamped in a tribute to the former Lakers star.

Typically scores are tallied in the fourth quarter to determine a winner. This time, the score of the leading team going into the fourth quarter was noted, and the clock turned off. That team’s score plus 24 points became the target. The first team to reach that mark, Team LeBron, won the game.

On the morning of the NBA All-Star Game, the league typically pays tribute to retired players at the Legends Brunch. Two years ago, when the game was in Los Angeles, NBA officials hoped to honor Bryant. He declined, however, explaining that Gianna had a game that morning, The Associated Press reported.

“That said to us everything about his priorities,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Sunday.

In a wild finish Team LeBron beat Team Giannis 157-155. Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers), who scored 30 points, won the first-ever Kobe Bryant MVP award.

The next Bryant tribute is Feb. 24 at the Staples Center in L.A., where a celebration of life will honor Kobe and Gianna.

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Rookie Year: 1996-1997

Bryant&nbsp;eyes the basket during the NBA Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend on Feb. 8, 1997. On that day, at age 18, Bryant&nbsp;became <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqVibdD3UqA">the youngest player ever</a> to win the contest.

Year 2: 1997-1998

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen try to stop Bryant as he leads a fast break in a&nbsp;Feb. 1, 1998, game between the Chicago Bulls and the Lakers.&nbsp;Bryant scored <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199802010LAL.html">20 points that night</a>,&nbsp;helping&nbsp;LA to a 112-87 win.

Year 3: 1998-1999

Bryant&nbsp;elevates for a dunk at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California, in the spring of his third season with the Lakers.
Bryant elevates for a dunk at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California, in the spring of his third season with the Lakers.

Year 4: 1999-2000

Bryant&nbsp;gets up high to block a shot by Bonzi Wells of the Portland Trail Blazers during a playoff game on&nbsp;June 4, 2000, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Bryant gets up high to block a shot by Bonzi Wells of the Portland Trail Blazers during a playoff game on June 4, 2000, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Year 5: 2000-2001

Bryant throws a&nbsp;pass around the back of the Philadelphia 76ers'&nbsp;Dikembe Mutombo during Game 2&nbsp;of the 2001 NBA Finals, on June 8, 2001, at the Staples Center.
Bryant throws a pass around the back of the Philadelphia 76ers' Dikembe Mutombo during Game 2 of the 2001 NBA Finals, on June 8, 2001, at the Staples Center.

Year 6: 2001-2002

Bryant goes up-and-under for the layup against&nbsp;the San Antonio Spurs during Game 2&nbsp;of the Western Conference Semifinals on May 7, 2002.
Bryant goes up-and-under for the layup against the San Antonio Spurs during Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals on May 7, 2002.

Year 7: 2002-2003

Bryant dunks over seven-foot-six-inch Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets on Feb.&nbsp;18, 2003.
Bryant dunks over seven-foot-six-inch Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets on Feb. 18, 2003.

Year 8: 2003-2004

On June 8, 2004, Bryant hits a deep shot over Richard Hamilton with&nbsp;just ticks remaining&nbsp;on the clock, tying up Game 2&nbsp;of the NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons.
On June 8, 2004, Bryant hits a deep shot over Richard Hamilton with just ticks remaining on the clock, tying up Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons.

Year 9: 2004-2005

Bryant performs some acrobatics&nbsp;in the lane against Lamond Murray and the Toronto Raptors on Dec.&nbsp;28, 2004.
Bryant performs some acrobatics in the lane against Lamond Murray and the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 28, 2004.

Year 10: 2005-2006

Bryant&nbsp;shoots a free throw for his 81st point against the Toronto Raptors on Jan.&nbsp;22, 2006. His 81-point scoring total that night&nbsp;was the second highest in NBA history.
Bryant shoots a free throw for his 81st point against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006. His 81-point scoring total that night was the second highest in NBA history.

Year 13: 2008-2009

Bryant celebrates the Lakers winning&nbsp;the 2008-2009 NBA championship, on June 14, 2009, in Orlando, Florida. Bryant won Finals MVP honors, as the Lakers easily defeated the Magic in a five-game&nbsp;series.
Bryant celebrates the Lakers winning the 2008-2009 NBA championship, on June 14, 2009, in Orlando, Florida. Bryant won Finals MVP honors, as the Lakers easily defeated the Magic in a five-game series.

Year 15: 2010-2011

Bryant&nbsp;hangs on to the rim after a Jan. 17, 2011, dunk against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Bryant hangs on to the rim after a Jan. 17, 2011, dunk against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Year 15: 2010-2011

Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, Metta World Peace and Luke Walton laugh on&nbsp;the bench during a game against the Utah Jazz on Jan. 25, 2011.
Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, Metta World Peace and Luke Walton laugh on the bench during a game against the Utah Jazz on Jan. 25, 2011.

Year 16: 2011-2012

Bryant&nbsp;looks on during a&nbsp;game against&nbsp;the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 29, 2012. He had suffered a concussion and a broken nose&nbsp;in the All-Star Game a couple weeks prior.
Bryant looks on during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 29, 2012. He had suffered a concussion and a broken nose in the All-Star Game a couple weeks prior.

Year 17: 2012-2013

Moments after&nbsp;tearing his Achilles on April 12, 2013, Bryant somehow manages to sink two free throws before leaving the game. Less than 24 hours later, Bryant had season-ending surgery.
Moments after tearing his Achilles on April 12, 2013, Bryant somehow manages to sink two free throws before leaving the game. Less than 24 hours later, Bryant had season-ending surgery.

Year 18: 2013-2014

On Dec. 8, 2013, Bryant steps onto the court for his first game since tearing his Achilles the previous spring. Unsurprisingly, he&nbsp;received a huge ovation from the Staples Center crowd all throughout that night's contest&nbsp;against the Toronto Raptors.
On Dec. 8, 2013, Bryant steps onto the court for his first game since tearing his Achilles the previous spring. Unsurprisingly, he received a huge ovation from the Staples Center crowd all throughout that night's contest against the Toronto Raptors.

Year 19: 2014-2015

Two of the greatest players ever go head to head, as Bryant bodies up LeBron James on Jan. 15, 2015. The picture is strikingly similar to&nbsp;<a href="http://sites.psu.edu/johnstonrclblog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5482/2014/04/9.23.13-magic-and-jordan1.jpg">one taken of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson</a> -- two other all-time greats&nbsp;-- decades earlier.

Year 20: 2015-2016

Bryant&nbsp;waves to the&nbsp;Philadelphia&nbsp;crowd, acknowledging their loud ovation, prior to the&nbsp;Lakers' contest&nbsp;against the 76ers on Dec&nbsp;1, 2015. Philadelphia&nbsp;held&nbsp;a pre-game ceremony for Bryant, honoring his 20-year NBA career.
Bryant waves to the Philadelphia crowd, acknowledging their loud ovation, prior to the Lakers' contest against the 76ers on Dec 1, 2015. Philadelphia held a pre-game ceremony for Bryant, honoring his 20-year NBA career.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.