L.A. pays tribute at Kobe Bryant memorial

Fans leave Staples Center following the the ‘Celebration of Life’ for Kobe and Gianna Bryant in Los Angeles.  (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

Fans leave Staples Center following the the ‘Celebration of Life’ for Kobe and Gianna Bryant in Los Angeles.  (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

Jaden, 10, with her father, Jay Calderon, outside Staples Center, where the ‘Celeration of Life,’ was being held. Jaden is an aspiring basketball player.  (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Manuel Hernandez gets emotional listening to Vanessa Bryant’s words during the Kobe Bryant memorial outside Staples Center.  (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Fans who were not able to get tickets to the Kobe Bryant memorial gather outside Staples Center.  (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Michael Jordan helps Vanessa Bryant off the stage at the Kobe & Gianna Bryant Celebration of Life ceremony at Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times/Los Angeles Times)

Vanessa Bryant speaks at the Kobe & Gianna Bryant Celebration of Life on Monday at Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times/Los Angeles Times)

Crowds watch the memorial on a big screen TV near Staples Center, where the ‘Celebration of Life’ for Kobe and Gianna Bryant, is being held.   (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

Daniel Aragon and Janet Navia cry as they watch the Kobe memorial on a big screen TV near the Staples Center Center, where the ‘Celebration of Life’ for Kobe and Gianna Bryant, is being held.   (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

Jimmy Kimmel host the ‘Celebration of Life’ for Kobe and Gianna Bryant inside Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

NBA players and coaches inside Staples Center for the ‘Celebration of Life’ for Kobe and Gianna Bryant.  (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

People outside Staples Center watch the ‘Celebration of Life’ for Kobe and Gianna Bryant on their phones.   (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

An image of Kobe and Vanessa Bryant is projected on the overhead screen inside Staples Center for the ‘Celebration of Life’ ceremony.  (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

A car honoring Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna pulls up outside the Staples Center area as fans line up for Monday’s memorial.  (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

A fan outside Staples Center where the the ‘Celebration of Life’ for Kobe and Gianna Bryant is being held.  (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

Fans queue outside Staples Center for the Bryant memorial. The NBA legend died along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas last month.   (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

Mia Tervia takes a photo of a Kobe Bryant diorama outside Staples Center by Fletcher Collins. The artist drove the diorama to L.A. from his home in Elizabethtown, N.C.  (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Many of the fans wore Kobe Bryant gear for the memorial.  (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

People with tickets to the Kobe Bryant memorial line up along Olympic Boulevard.   (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

A fan shows her Kobe Bryant T-shirt outside Staples Center before the “Celebration of Lifeâ€� on Monday.  (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

Fans take photos at a new Kobe mural on Grand at Pico -- blocks from the Staples Center.  (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

Jazmine Jabi shows her nails, decorated in Lakers colors.  (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

Lindsey Nolan from San Diego takes a selfie at the Kobe Bryant mural on Lebanon Street near Staples Center.  (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

“I couldn’t get tickets for the memorial so I brought flowers,â€� said David Chen, at the Kobe Bryant mural on Lebanon Street.  (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

Oliver Higgins, from Jamaica, writes a condolence message at the Kobe Bryant mural on Lebanon Street.  (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

Fans gather outside Staples Center for the memorial; 20,000 bought tickets for the sold-out event.  (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

An aerial view shows Staples Center and fans. Police closed the area surrounding the venue and checked tickets carefully.  (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Security is tight as fans gather outside Staples Center for the “Celebration of Lifeâ€� for Kobe and Gianna Bryant.  (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

Mourning fans wait for the Staples Center doors to open for Bryant’s memorial.   (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)