The Los Angeles Lakers "have been forever changed" by the death of five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant.
Bryant died aged 41 alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash in California on Sunday.
His death led to an outpouring of tributes from around the globe, both from inside and outside the world of sport.
The Lakers' heartfelt words came as Bryant's wife, Vanessa, made her first public comments.
Having lost a husband and daughter in the accident, she wrote on Instagram: "My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who've shown support and love during this horrific time. Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them. We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri.
"We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately. There aren't enough words to describe our pain right now. I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved.
"We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon. I'm not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it's impossible to imagine life without them. But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way. Our love for them is endless — and that's to say, immeasurable. I just wish I could hug them, kiss them and bless them. Have them here with us, forever."
Vanessa Bryant has started a foundation to raise money for the families of the other families.
"We want to represent what Kobe was about more than anything," Vogel said, according to ESPN.
"We've always wanted to make him proud. And that's not going to be any different here.
"He was the most feared man in the league for an entire generation. The influence is profound league-wide, basketball community-wide, worldwide, Lakers family-wide."
The tributes to Bryant continued on Wednesday night as players from NHL team the Los Angeles Kings – who share Staples Center with the Lakers and the Clippers – all arrived at the venue wearing either number eight or number 24 Bryant jerseys while a pre-game tribute video was followed by 24 seconds of silence.
NBA side the Brooklyn Nets also player a tribute video and had 24 seconds of silence at the Barclays Center while they also left bouquets of purple and yellow flowers on two chairs – the same seats Bryant and Gianna were pictured sitting in during a game on December 21.
