Lakers Honor Gianna and Kobe Bryant With Roses and Jerseys on Courtside Seats at Staples Center

The Los Angeles Lakers return to action Friday night for the first time since the tragic deaths of Kobe and Gianna Bryant. It's about to be an emotional night for those playing and for everyone watching both at Staples Center and at home.

The Lakers have plenty planned to honor the late father and daughter, as well as the seven others aboard the helicopter which crashed in Calabasas on Sunday. One tribute to Bryant has been revealed ahead of the game. The Lakers placed roses alongside Gianna and Kobe jerseys on a pair of courtside seats, which the pair sat in just a month ago during a game against the Mavericks.

This is a nice touch and it is only fitting to have two seats sit empty on a night when there is a vast feeling of emptiness surrounding the Lakers organization and the NBA world.

There's plenty more in store in terms of Bryant tributes on Friday evening, but this got things off to an emotional start.

Players will surely go to the seats to pay their respects and the powerful gesture will add to the emotion of the night.

This is an impossible situation to deal with and the Lakers are doing a tremendous job of honoring the late father and daughter.