TORONTO -- Spike Lee paid tribute to the late Kobe Bryant at Sunday鈥檚 Oscars, wearing a Los Angeles Laker鈥檚 themed purple and gold suit withthe NBA icon鈥檚 number stitched into the lapels.
Bryant鈥檚 iconic number 24, which was also stitched into the back of the suit, could be seen as Lee walked the red carpetat the 92nd Academy Awards. He also donned Bryant鈥檚 Nike shoes.
鈥淔or Vanessa, for the family, peace and love,鈥� he said in a red carpet interview with Billy Porter.
Lee directed the 2009 documentary 鈥淜obe: Doin鈥� Work,鈥� which profiled the Laker star鈥檚 notorious training and work ethic.
Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash last month, will be honoured with a special tribute at this year鈥檚 Oscar ceremony.
Although he was not a member of the Academy, Bryant won the 2018 Oscar for best animated short for writing and narrating the film 鈥淒ear Basketball.鈥� The short profiled Bryant鈥檚 2015 retirement from basketball.
