I will never forget when I was introduced to one of the greatest athletes ever, Kobe Bean Bryant. I was about 5 years old, watching my favorite basketball player, Dwyane Wade, play. I had always known who Kobe was, but never really got into him. But then, fast forward to 2010, when Kobe led the Lakers past the Celtics to win back-to-back titles, and his fifth overall. I was at a Dave and Buster’s in Denver, Colorado on vacation. Just seeing what he accomplished, he had become one of my idols.
He went on after that to battle injuries/miss the playoffs, but still continued to inspire all, including his daughter, Gianna. He had also been convicted of rape in 2003, and nearly divorced his wife, Vanessa, in 2011, but fought for his marriage, and that was all thanks to his Catholic faith.
In 2015, Kobe announced that he planned to retire at the end of the 2015-16, going on a season-long farewell tour, including an emotional stop in his last game in his hometown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The season went on, and he continued to get an outpouring of support from fans all over the league. On April 13, 2016, Kobe would play his last ever NBA game in front of a sold-out Staples Center crowd against the Utah Jazz. Another historical game happened to be going on that night, as the Golden State Warriors were chasing to break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls record of 72-10 by getting to 73 wins, finishing 73-9. So overall, this was one of the most historic nights of basketball in my life. Kobe went on to drop 60 points in a comeback win over the Jazz in his final game, one of the best performances ever (since he dropped 81 points in 2006).
After his basketball career, Kobe was still a known icon around Los Angeles and the world. He continued to attend Lakers games, along with Gianna, and coached his daughter’s basketball team at his Mamba Sports Academy. In 2017, the Lakers retired both of his numbers 8 and 24, so no Laker would ever be able to wear them again.
As Kobe’s life continued, he was dedicated to spending more time with his wife and four kids. As he put it, he loved being a “girl dad”. He was thriving at the age of 41.
January 26, 2020, will forever be a day of misery for basketball fans around the world, including me, as Kobe tragically passed away in a helicopter crash, along with his daughter Gianna, and seven other passengers. The outpouring of sorrow and support for his family and him just shows how many hearts he truly touched. So the next time you get up to shoot a piece of paper in the trash and say “Kobe”, it will always show how much he inspired and influenced the game of basketball.
RIP Kobe
1978-2020
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