PHOTO COURTESY OF BLEACHER REPORT
The whole world lost an inspiration this past weekend. Kobe Bryant tragically passed away with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others in a helicopter crash.
This past weekend many NBA teams, players, and coaches paid their respects to Bryant. Many teams took 8- and 24-second violations in tribute to Bryant’s numbers, 8 and 24. Bryant’s untimely death devastated the whole league and the whole world.
Some of my favorite childhood memories take me back to watching NBA games with my dad. I played basketball in grade school, and despite not being very good, I loved watching the sport more than anything. I grew up like every kid who loved the game, shooting pieces of trash into the garbage can, exclaiming “Kobe!” as if I had just scored the game winning bucket.
My dad and I would bond over watching these games and seeing game-winning shots and unreal dunks by Steph Curry and LeBron James. I keep these moments very close to my heart, but despite my love for Lebron James and Steph Curry, no one inspired me more than Kobe Bryant.
Undoubtedly one of the all time greats in the sport, Kobe would hit unimaginable shots with multiple defenders all over him. Drafted straight out of high school, he made an immediate impact on the sport. Over his illustrious 20-year career, he earned five rings, 18 all-star appearances, and a league MVP award. He also played his whole career with the same team, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Scoring 81 points in one game in 2006, Bryant always left fans in awe, up until his very last game as a player, where he scored 60 points. A definite first-ballot hall-of-famer, Kobe made every kid that played basketball growing up want to be like him, myself included.
Kobe would play through brutal injuries, compete physically in practice, and play as hard, if not harder, in practice as he would in games. He motivated others to work as hard as they possibly could. He was a truly fierce and relentless competitor who would never give up. This undeniable truth motivates every competitor who loves the sport.
Although basketball was Kobe’s forte, he succeeded off the court as well. A dedicated father of four, Kobe was regarded as a loving and caring father and husband. Kobe spent much of his childhood in Italy too, and became fluent in three languages: Italian, Spanish, and English.
Bryant also won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2018 for his “Dear Basketball” masterpiece. The film, about a poem Kobe wrote about what basketball has meant to him, was a truly beautiful work of art.
Kobe was taken from us too soon. He had accomplished and showed the world his amazing talents, but many felt he was just getting started.
At the beginning of this article, I told you about growing up watching basketball with my dad and being amazed by Kobe on the basketball court. However, the truth is, Kobe’s legacy extends far beyond basketball. He was the type of person who motivated not just his fans, not just fans of the Lakers, and not just fans of the game, but everyone.
Kobe’s genius motivated everyone to work as hard as possible at their craft, whether they are a fan of basketball or not. He is a perfect example of how hard work can allow you to reach your dreams. He inspired us to be the very best versions of ourselves.
I will never stop exclaiming “Kobe!” as I shoot a piece of trash into the garbage can, and I know everyone will remember Kobe’s legacy on and off the court forever. He was a bright light in all of our lives.
We love you Kobe, you will be missed, but you will be in all of our hearts forever.
