In Italy, Bryant to be mourned for a week’s worth of games

FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2011, file photo, U.S. basketball star Kobe Bryant plays with a ball during a sponsor's appearance in Milan, Italy. In Europe where Bryant grew up, the retired NBA star is being remembered for his "Italian qualities." Italian basketball federation president Giovanni Petrucci tells The Associated Press that Bryant is "particularly important to us because he knew Italy so well, having lived in several cities here. He had a lot of Italian qualities." (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File) FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2011, file photo, U.S. basketball star Kobe Bryant plays with a ball during a sponsor's appearance in Milan, Italy. In Europe where Bryant grew up, the retired NBA star is being remembered for his "Italian qualities." Italian basketball federation president Giovanni Petrucci tells The Associated Press that Bryant is "particularly important to us because he knew Italy so well, having lived in several cities here. He had a lot of Italian qualities." (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

By ANDREW DAMPF / AP Sports Writer January 27, 2020 3 min read

ROME (AP) – In the country where he grew up, Kobe Bryant will be mourned for an entire week.

The Italian basketball federation said Monday it has ordered a minute’s silence to be observed for all games “in every category for the entire week.”

“It’s a small but heartfelt and deserved gesture to honor the life and memory of Kobe Bryant, an absolute champion who always had Italy in his heart,” the federation said. “Kobe was and will always be linked to our country.”

Bryant lived in Italy between the ages of 6 and 13 while his father, Joe Bryant, played for several teams in the country. He returned to Pennsylvania for high school.

Kobe Bryant spoke fluent Italian and often said it would be a “dream” to play in the country.