NBA All-Star Weekend took place in Chicago as basketball’s best competed in a series of events, and as expected tributes to the late Kobe Bryant were everywhere to be seen.
Players all wore either number 24 or number 2, which Kobe and his daughter Gianna wore when they played. At halftime, Chance the Rapper dedicated one of his songs to the late basketball star, and the lyrics began with a prayer and a description of Heaven.
“We pray for a day that’ll come where we get to see the place where there is no sunrise and no sunset,” the song began as a montage of images flashed on the screen behind him. “And the Prince of Peace will say ‘Job well done.'”
The lyrics are an apparent reference to the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25.
Chance the Rapper has been outspoken about his faith of late, even announcing recently that he went on sabbatical in part, to spend more time in the Word.
“We all quote scripture and tell each other what God likes and doesn’t like but how much time do we spend as followers of Jesus to really just read and KNOW his Word?” he wrote at the time.
According to reports, Kobe Bryant attended mass early on the morning of the day he eventually would pass away. While the media didn’t cover or ask about his faith much, an interview with popular sports broadcaster Stephen A. Smith provided a window into Kobe’s faith in God.
“God is great” Bryant flatly explained when talking about how he got through the lowest point in his marriage and life.