Private funeral held for Kobe Bryant before memorial

Public memorial honoring Bryant set for Feb. 24 in LA, in wake of copter crash that took life of hoops legend and daughter

By Fatih Erel

ISTANBUL (AA) - Basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his second daughter Gianna have been laid to rest in a private funeral ahead of a public memorial service.

According to their death certificates, they were buried in a cemetery in Southern California last Friday, the NBA said in a statement.

A public memorial in honor of Bryant is due to be held on Feb. 24 at Staples Center in Los Angeles – the home of the Lakers, Bryant's team throughout his 20-year-long career.

On Jan. 26, Kobe and Gianna, 13, his second daughter, were killed in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles, along with seven other people on board.

The helicopter, with nine people in it, was headed to a basketball tournament at Mamba Academy near Thousand Oaks.

Kaynak: