Kobe Bryant Fans Thank Academy Awards for Recognizing Basketball Star at the 2020 Oscars

Fans praised the 2020 Academy Awards for showcasing a special tribute in honor of Kobe Bryant and the victims that died in the helicopter crash with him.

The 92nd Oscar awards got off to an emotional start when the show opened with a tribute to Kobe Bryant. Praising the awards show for honoring the NBA legend, a fan said:

"Thank you #AcademyAwards. I don't know if you changed the rules since Kobe died this year, I heard that the memoriam was just for those who passed in 2019 either way thank you for recognizing him. #Oscars."

and his daughter,

were among 9 nine people on board a helicopter, which tragically crashed in the hills near Calabasas, California.

In the tribute, Kobe's image was shown first on the screen. It showed him holding up the Oscar award he won last year for "Best Animated Short Film" for his short film "Dear Basketball."

Billie Eilish took the stage to give an emotional rendition of the Beatles hit song "Yesterday." The moment stuck a chord with fan, who admitted:

"I was not ready to see Kobe Bryant in the in Memoriam...Lawd. #oscars. I'm sure he would be so proud and excited to see @MatthewACherry win for #HairLove #KobeBryant."

In the days since Kobe's tragic death, his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers held a memorial before their first game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Recently, his wife, Vanessa Bryant, shared videos from a memorial ceremony for Gianna, where her number 2 jersey was retired held at Harbor Day School in Corona Del Mar.