Jazz Start Game Against Rockets With 24-Second Shot Clock Violation To Honor Kobe Bryant

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz honored Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant with a 24-second shot clock violation against the Houston Rockets.

When the Rockets received the ball after the violation, they stayed in the backcourt for 8 seconds, committing an 8-second backcourt violation. Those two violations are what other teams around the NBA have done on Sunday and Monday to honor Kobe Bryant’s two numbers from his legendary career, No. 8 and No. 24.

Bryant and 8 others including his 13-year-old daughter died in a helicopter crash in Southern California en route to a travel basketball game on Sunday morning.

Utah Jazz fans were awesome tonight as both the Jazz and Rockets honor Kobe. #TakeNote #RIPKobe https://t.co/mswkFuB8kZ pic.twitter.com/ojDM5Poy6j

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) January 28, 2020

Before the player introductions, the Utah Jazz held a moment of silence to honor Bryant and the others that were impacted by the tragedy.

pic.twitter.com/5iTj5f3SGv

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 28, 2020

The Minnesota Timberwolves did a unique tribute to Bryant by placing the ball at the free throw line after they won the opening tip-off. The ball was placed at the foul line because that was where Bryant passed Michael Jordan on the NBA All-Time scoring list.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings started the game by taking 8-second backcourt and 24-second shot-clock violations.

The Timberwolves placed the ball at the free-throw line, the spot where Kobe Bryant passed Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list. pic.twitter.com/KpP7ycCEGb

— NBA (@NBA) January 28, 2020