Naomi Osaka honors Kobe Bryant: "I keep his spirit with me"

Naomi Osaka, the outstanding Japanese tennis player, has revealed the personal significance of wearing Kobe Bryant's shirt, the late NBA star. Osaka, who is in New York competing in the 2024 US Open, wore Bryant's shirt after her victory in the first round against the Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, with a score of 6-3 and 6-2.

Bryant, born in Philadelphia and considered one of the greatest players in NBA history, left an indelible legacy in the sport. With five NBA titles and over 33,000 points in his career, his tragic death in a helicopter accident in January 2020, along with his daughter Gianna, shook the world.

Osaka explained that she wears Bryant's shirt to keep his "spirit" alive. "I guess today I played on the same court," she said, referring to the Louis Armstrong Stadium, where Bryant supported her in the past. "I remember I couldn't believe he specifically came to watch my match. Feeling that support was unreal. I think I always put on Kobe's shirts after games and practices because I feel like I can keep his spirit with me."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Naomi Osaka honra a Kobe Bryant: "Mantengo su espíritu conmigo"