News | Entertainment
22 Feb 2026 6:53
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Shaquille O'Neal isn't sure what role he'll play in Kobe Bryant's memorial

    The late basketball legend and his daughter Gianna - who were among nine people who lost their lives in a tragic helicopter crash last month - will both be remembered in a public memorial at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on February 24, and Shaq expects to be in attendance to pay tribute to his friend


    He told Extra: "I haven't talked to anybody yet, but I'm sure I will be there."

    The 47-year-old retired basketball player admitted he is struggling to cope with Kobe's passing.

    He said: "I'm not doing good."

    Tickets to the memorial - which go on sale today (19.02.20) - are priced at either $224 or $24.02, with proceeds benefiting the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, which was set up by Kobe and was previously known as the Mamba Sports Foundation before his widow Vanessa Bryant altered the name to honour Gianna as well as Kobe.

    The recurrence of the numbers 2 and 24 comes as Kobe wore a number 24 jersey for most of his career with the LA Lakers, and Gianna wore jersey number 2 at the Mamba Sports Academy.

    It was previously reported that the public memorial will begin at 10am on February 24, and organisers have already allocated tickets to a large number of invited guests made up of family members, friends, celebrities, and current and former stars from the NBA.

    The event will also honour the other seven people who lost their lives in the crash, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Christina Mauser, and pilot Ara Zobayan.

    The memorial will be televised, and there are reportedly no plans for a procession or other events outside of Staples Centre.

    LA Mayor Eric Garcetti confirmed plans for the memorial last month, when he said: "There will absolutely be a memorial to mark the contributions of this incredible man and not only him, but to commemorate the loss of his daughter and all the other families that were there."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     22 Feb: Logan Paul would "love" to wrestle Bad Bunny
     22 Feb: Jax Taylor is "the healthiest he's ever been"
     21 Feb: Hilary Duff "just felt really ready to share" when she returned to the music business
     21 Feb: Zendaya has learned that "so much of life is loss"
     21 Feb: Jelly Roll found reading Bunnie Xo's memoir to be "rough at times"
     21 Feb: Henry Winkler has hailed Ron Howard as "one of the best acting partners" of his career
     21 Feb: Shia LaBeouf has addressed his Mardi Gras arrest with a brief social media message hours after being released from jail
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    It's a Super Rugby "rinse and repeat' moment for Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Two dogs have been impounded by Christchurch Council Animal Management officers and three people are in hospital after an attack in the North West More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Logan Paul would "love" to wrestle Bad Bunny 6:47

    Entertainment:
    Jax Taylor is "the healthiest he's ever been" 6:17

    Auckland:
    A e-bike rider is in hospital after crashing in central Auckland this evening 21:56

    Entertainment:
    Hilary Duff "just felt really ready to share" when she returned to the music business 21:47

    Entertainment:
    Zendaya has learned that "so much of life is loss" 21:17

    Auckland:
    A car has flipped after hitting a parked car in Auckland's Hillsborough this evening 21:16

    International:
    I had a miscarriage over the summer. It was nothing like I expected 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Jelly Roll found reading Bunnie Xo's memoir to be "rough at times" 20:47

    Entertainment:
    Henry Winkler has hailed Ron Howard as "one of the best acting partners" of his career 20:17

    Entertainment:
    Shia LaBeouf has addressed his Mardi Gras arrest with a brief social media message hours after being released from jail 19:47


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd