During a new interview this week, late night television host Jimmy Kimmel opened up about what it was like to host the televised memorial of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna at the Staples Center back in February.

While talking to “Watch What Happens Live” host Andy Cohen, Kimmel talked about the emotional service, which featured speeches by Bryant’s wife Vanessa as well as by NBA greats like LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal. When Cohen asked how “nervous” he felt for the service and how “intense”it all was, Kimmel replied simply “very and very” to each question.

“I guess I wasn’t really fully paying attention, but I didn’t know it was going to be a televised event. I thought it was a somewhat intimate family and fans thing,” Kimmel confessed. “The saddest part was seeing the family just sitting in the front row. That’s a killer, looking at those kids, Vanessa and Kobe’s parents. To just realize as sad as this is for all of us, this is a million times worse for them.”

Bryant, 41, was tragically killed with his 13 year-old daughter and seven others on January 26 when their helicopter crashed in Calabasas, California while they were on their way to a children’s basketball game. The next day, Kimmel gave an emotional opening monologue on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” while paying tribute to Bryant, who had been a personal friend of his.

“We don’t have a studio audience here tonight because – going forward with a comedy show didn’t feel right considering what happened yesterday – so I’d like to just speak to you directly,” Kimmel said. “Kobe was — and I know this might not make sense – but he was just the last person you could have ever imagined something like this happening to,” the 52-year-old host said. “He was so strong and handsome and smart and energetic — he was a hero.”

“And when I say that, I don’t mean a hero like real heroes — like firefighters, or doctors and nurses — who actually save lives,” Kimmel added. “I don’t mean to compare what he did for a living to what they do. I know there are more important things than basketball. Almost everything is more important.”

With everything that has happened in the world since January, it really does feel like it’s been a lifetime since Bryant’s untimely death. Please join us in saying a prayer for his family and friends who are undoubtedly still struggling to deal with this unimaginable loss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5YSOHIRC4c

This piece originally appeared in UpliftingToday.com and is used by permission.

Read more at UpliftingToday.com:
Lori Loughlin Gets Amazing News From Judge as She Scores Huge Court Victory
Meghan Markle Says Palace Would Have Made Changes If Kate Was Being ‘Relentlessly Picked on’ by Media
Prosecutors Drop Bomb on Lori Loughlin in College Admissions Case

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Steve Gruber.