Remembering a Legend: Kobe Bryant

Jan. 26th began like a normal day. Then my mom delivered the heartbreaking news. Kobe Bryant, a hero to me and so many others, had passed away in a helicopter crash. I was in disbelief but then came to accept the truth. Kobe had died.

The last sentence still doesn’t make sense to me. Dead at 41. Not even two hours later, I saw that his second daughter was also on the helicopter ride. Gianna Bryant, a sweet 13-year-old girl, had her dream of playing at UCONN ripped away. Kobe has always been a huge supporter of women’s basketball and would coach his daughter as well as her teammates. He would put in the extra effort to help his daughters and to bond with them Seven others were on the plane that crashed. I sat on my bed for a bit, thinking about how his family, the city of Los Angeles, and the fans felt. I then pulled out his book Mamba Mentality: How I Play. It’s obviously about how he plays but parts of it talks about how no matter what, keep the “Mamba Mentality”. That means to keep going until you can’t and then go a little further despite having the weight of the world on your shoulders. His words motivate me and push me to become the best I can be both athletically and personally.

Kobe’s legacy transcends the NBA. He was a cultural icon since he was 17. An easy way to see how big he was is the way his name was shouted triumphantly after anyone made a basket during basketball or by simply throwing a paper ball into a trash can. People didn’t yell “Jordan”, or “Shaq”, or “Lebron:” they yelled “Kobe”. He was the player that many introduced basketball to many young fans. Everything about how he played and how hard he fought on every possession was something to be admired. 

Kobe remained active in his community and in the entertainment business. He funded and created Granity Studios, a film studio that specializes in sports. His animated short film Dear Basketball won an Oscar. Despite all that, Kobe also made time for his family. When his daughter wanted to play basketball, he not only stepped up to spend extra time with her, he coached her team. He made sure to put his family’s comfort first. He also created the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant foundation dedicated to helping the disadvantaged families of America by financially supporting and educating them so they could get on their feet. Whatever challenge he faced, he took it head on and wouldn’t stop until he had conquered it.

As I’m writing this, I still don’t believe what happened. It’s a nightmare for all those close to him.  Kobe knew that life was precious and how it needed to be lived to the fullest, knowing it could end at any point. Kobe would want all those who loved him to keep going, and to always be the best version of yourself . Kobe Bryant is dead but his legacy will never suffer the same fate. Never let go of the “Mamba Mentality”.