HANCOCK PARK, Calif. — It’s a tribute that will span 60 feet across, a mural painted by several artists, each one with their story about watching Kobe Bryant play or how he inspired them.

But for one artist here the morning of January 26 felt eerily familiar.

“All those years back in 2012, it was like the same thing, it was about the same time of morning, the weather was the same, you know you turn on the news and you see a helicopter had crashed and you know even the imaging was the same so it was all really weird and eerie,” said Mikey Rivera.

RELATED STORIES:

Rivera is the son of legendary Mexican singer Jenni Rivera, who died in a plane crash on December 9, 2012 in Mexico. 

“The month before my mom passed, the last gift that she had bought me were floor tickets to the Lakers and it was amazing. I was so happy and thankful, I cherished it that much more when she had passed," Rivera said. "And now to see Kobe pass, her last gift to me was to see him and it just made the loss that much stronger and I have so many strong memories because of that.”

The mural Rivera is painting is located on the corner of West 1st Street and North La Brea Ave. on the Custom Auto Craft Building. The group of artists headed by muralist Levi Ponce are all donating their time to create it. I

It’s expected to be complete by February 2. For Rivera, The mural is his way of channeling his grief for the NBA superstar. He says while he never met Bryant, he now feels a connection to his family.

“You can only imagine what their whole family is going through, I mean, I’m sure I can imagine a little bit, but it never gets easier and that morning will live fresh in their minds the rest of their lives,” said Rivera.  

He says what got him through his mother's loss was having his family by his side. A support system that not only comforted him but helped him heal.