Kobe Bryant’s pal ‘still in denial’ over star’s death as he reveals he ‘wakes up in middle of night in tears’
KOBE Bryant’s pal has revealed he is “still in denial” over the NBA star’s death, saying he “wakes up in the middle of the night in tears”.
Rashad Phillips, 42, a former basketball player who went unpicked in the 2001 draft, became close friends with the Lakers star over the years.
Phillips, with a height of 5’ 9”, was mainly avoided by the teams due to his relatively small stature for the game.
Kobe described him at the time as the best talent to go undrafted but Phillips was eventually picked for what was then called the NBA Developmental League, now called the NBA G League.
Phillips took to Twitter recently to express his feellings, saying he still couldn’t get over the death of his pal.
He wrote: “Woke up in the middle of night in tears. I miss you bro. Like some days I just struggle.
“I haven’t accepted it dog. The conversations we had play back in my head over and over.
“I’m in denial my dude. Some days I just can’t deal. I be at a loss for words my dude.”
Kobe’s life was tragically cut short on January 26 when a helicopter he was in crashed while he was travelling to a in California.
His daughter Gianna along with other passengers and the pilot were also killed.
Kobe's wife .
Vanessa Bryant filed the complaint - which also lists Kobe's daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri as plaintiffs - on the same day that she delivered a heartbreaking eulogy for both her husband and daughter at a memorial for the two in Los Angeles.
The owners of the doomed helicopter though by stating was fully aware of the risks he was taking when he decided to fly.
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They also added the basketball player should also be liable for damages on account of his own "comparative and/or contributory negligence."
A relative of the deceased pilot, Ara George Zobayan, has also responded to the suit by
According to TMZ, the relative said: "Any injuries or damages to plaintiffs and/or their decedent were directly caused in full or in part by the negligence or fault of plaintiffs and/or their decedent, including their knowing and voluntary encounter with the risks involved, and that this negligence was a substantial factor in causing their purported damages, for which this answering defendant bears no responsibility."
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