A fan-made memorial to remember NBA great Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna sits in the LA Live Plaza Thursday in Los Angeles. The two were killed along with seven others in a helicopter crash on Sunday. Photo: VCG

 
The NBA's two All-Star teams will wear jersey numbers honoring the memory of Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna in the mid-season showcase, and Los Angeles Lakers star ­LeBron James had a simple reason for going with Gianna Bryant's No.2.

"Zhuri," James said, referring to his own 5-year-old daughter.

James spoke movingly on Friday of the joy Bryant had found since his retirement in life as a family man and father of four daughters.

"It felt like these last three years were the happiest I've ever seen him," James said.

The numbers are among the planned All-Star weekend tributes to Bryant and Gianna, who were among nine people who died in a helicopter crash on January 26.

The team captained by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will wear the No.24 that Bryant wore in the later stages of his 20-year NBA career.

Memories of Bryant are sure to be everywhere for the rest of the season, but James said the Lakers are finding their way forward.

But it hasn't been easy, and James said the Lakers continue to lean on each other as they try to get to grips with Bryant's death.

"There is no way any individual can do it on their own," he said.

"The week that we had, the week that we've all had.

"You have to lean on ­somebody in order to gain strength. That's the only reason we're all able to get through it together."