Staples Center Seats Already Decked Out With Kobe Bryant Gear Hours Ahead of Tip-Off

The outpouring of love and emotional tributes for Kobe Bryant after he, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash Sunday has been truly something to witness. The Los Angeles Lakers, who have not played a game since the postponement of their scheduled meeting with the Clippers on Tuesday, will return to the floor for the first time in a post-Kobe world as they take on the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night.

Kobe gear has already been distributed all over the seats of the Staples Center, as half of the fans in attendance will get a No. 8 jersey, while the other will get a No. 24 jersey.

That's a nice touch from the Lakers. Expect nothing less than a sellout packed to the brim with the world's most passionate Laker fans out at LA Live on this night.

Head coach Frank Vogel has even confirmed that the whole coaching staff will honor Kobe by wearing his signature sneakers.

All eyes will be on LA as we wait to see how the only team Kobe ever knew for 20 seasons honors the passing of arguably the greatest player in franchise history. Knowing how the Lakers operate, it will probably put the rest of the Kobe tributes we've seen to shame.