Half-Pinoy in NBA Bubble shares his last memory with Kobe Bryant

Aside from Utah Jazz's Jordan Clarkson and Miami Heat's coach Erik Spoelstra, another half-Filipino, Blake Lyons, is currently inside the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Bubble.

Lyons is a long-term attendant for the Los Angeles Clippers, who was chosen by the league as one of the attendants to be included in the historic NBA Bubble.

In a virtual interview with GMA News Online, Lyons talked about how he, together with the whole city of LA, is coping with the death of basketball legend Kobe Bryant.

"I still get emotional ‘til today. But he was definitely an icon and idol for a lot of people," said Lyons.

Lyons recalled the basketball legend's last game against the Clippers in the Staples Center four years ago — which was also the last time he interacted with Bryant.

"I do remember, just giving him a fist out as he was walking into the game," Lyons shared.

"I stay away from a lot of players, I kinda let them do their thing before their games. I respect them, so I try not to give too much conversation, but I do remember giving him towels on the bench side, and putting it over his shoulder. That’s something that he liked," he recalled.

During the said game, Lyons admitted to bringing home one of Kobe's special water bottles since it has his jersey number in it. "It’s very little, but I still have it."

Still emotional six months after Kobe's death, Lyons said the Laker legend's death was tough for the city of LA.

"I went to the memorial. It was great seeing so many people, so many players came. The whole city stopped. It stopped for a whole week, I still choke up about it," he recalled.

Bryant died 26th of January this year in a chopper crash in Calabasas, California. He died with eight people onboard the chopper, including his daughter Gianna. — LA, GMA News