Jimmy Fallon Breaks Down in Tears Recalling His First Meeting with Kobe Bryant

Jimmy Fallon broke down in tears while remembering Kobe Bryant and recalling their first meeting years ago in Los Angeles.

“Kobe was such a life force, so strong and creative and inspired that in my head I thought that he would live forever,” Jimmy told the audience at The Tonight Show on Monday night (January 27).

“I met Kobe when he was 17 and I was 21,” he said. “He was a rookie on the Lakers and I was just starting out on the comedy scene in L.A. We were at a party and we didn’t know anyone at the party, so we just started talking. I said, ‘Hey what do you do?’ and he said ‘I play basketball’ and I go ‘Where?’ and he goes ‘For the Lakers.’ I go ‘Wow.”

“He was telling me he was into poetry. I met his sister. Then the guy that was having the party said, ‘Hey guys who wants to make a beer run?’ and Kobe wasn’t drinking, he was 17, so he goes ‘I’ll do it, Jimmy you want to come?’” he continued.

“We drive down Sunset Blvd. to this place called Pink Dot. So, I go in and I open the door and it’s locked and the guy goes ‘Sorry, I can’t sell you anything.’ And I go, ‘We just want to get the beer right there’ and he’s like ‘Yeah, I can’t do that,’ That’s not how this place works. We’re delivery only. Kobe then takes out his ID and puts it up against the glass and he goes ‘I’m a Laker’ and the guy opened the door and we walked away with five cases of beer and we saved the party,” Jimmy added.

“Kobe went on to become a legend. When we’d run into each other over the years, we’d laugh about the night we first met,” Jimmy said while crying. “We’d laugh at all the good things that happened since and we’d laugh at how much fun it was to raise kids. Kobe had four daughters and I had two daughters and today he and one of his daughters are gone.”

“Let’s honor Kobe, Gianna and the other lives lost. Love your family, love your teammates and outwork everyone else in the gym. To Vanessa and all those affected by this tragedy, we love you and we’ll always be there for all of you. Kobe, when we meet again, we’re going on a beer run,” he said.