LOS ANGELES – Kyrie Irving needed a moment of peace long before the spectacle of Tuesday’s festivities began. The Dallas Mavericks star paid a visit to see the newest statue commemorating the legacy of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant hours before his team suffered a 107-99 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The city of Los Angeles has started to accept that Luka Doncic is on the Lakers now. That deal with the Dallas Mavericks feels like a fever dream to some people, and a few Lakers fans have even admitted that the whole situation feels icky.

It was the first time he visited the Kobe and Gigi Bryant statues outside Crypto Arena. Irving made the visit during pregame. "It meant everything to me. I needed that before game," Irving said. "I don't know if anybody has dealt with that avoiding feeling,