Report: Lakers not commemorating anniversary of Kobe's death

With the one-year anniversary of Kobe Bryant's death approaching on Jan. 26, the wound of the icon's sudden, tragic passing in a helicopter accident last year remains too painful for the Los Angeles Lakers to place additional weight on the occasion.

The team won't wear its "Black Mamba" uniform set during its games on Jan. 25 and 27 versus the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers. The club also doesn't plan to formally pay tribute to Bryant on Jan. 26, sources told ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

Bryant's memory is still top of mind for Lakers players.

For LeBron James, focusing on the particulars of Bryant's passing along with his daughter Gianna and seven others is a place he doesn't want to go.

"I try not to put myself back in that headspace, because it's just too dark, for not only myself but for our organization and for everyone that's involved in it," said James.

Anthony Davis shares that sentiment. His NBA career only briefly overlapped with Bryant's, but along with James, Davis played with the pending Hall of Fame enshrinee on the gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic team in 2012.

"As we approach his one-year anniversary, it saddens our hearts to actually come to the realization that he's gone," Davis said following Sunday's game in Chicago, according to McMenamin. "I know I still have trouble with it, you still just can't believe it."