Tribute to Kobe Bryant: The Black Mamba Rest In Peace
When the news broke that Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, passed away in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, I couldn’t believe it. Kobe meant too much to the game to leave us now and I simply couldn’t believe that this news was true. I’ve followed Kobe since his High School days at Lower Merion HS, right outside of Philadelphia. From the McDonalds All American game in 1996 straight to the NBA, Kobe was just different. He was a student of the game first. A masterful mind who perfected the game of basketball and brought ‘Mamba Mentality’ to the world. Everything that Kobe did was iconic. From wearing his number 8 and later switching to 24, dropping 81 points on the Raptors, to playing his entire career in a Lakers jersey, the list goes on.
Retired N.B.A. star Kobe Bryant, 41, and his daughter Gianna were among nine people in a helicopter that crashed near Calabasas, Calif. Photo courtesy of Getty
It’s the way that he carried himself that made Kobe Bryant special. His spirit was infectious and people around the globe, even the ones who never met him personally, truly loved him. He was a true competitor who worked tirelessly on mastering every aspect of his craft. His attention to detail was uncanny and he fought until the final buzzer sounded every single game. Kobe took this attitude towards everything that he was involved with and was truly a people’s champion.
A 12-year-old Kobe playing grown men in Italy where he grew up. The world is mourning the loss of Kobe Bryant. Photo courtesy of Reddit.com
Kobe grew up in Italy where his dad “Jellybean” Joe Bryant played professionally. Kobe not only learned how to speak Italian and a number of other languages, but he learned how to conduct himself as a professional at a young age. Once he returned to the States and settled in at Lower Merion HS he set his sights on becoming the best High School players in the country. He slowly started to strategize and chip away at every player who he needed to destroy en route to fulfilling his goal. By the time he graduated from High School, he was ranked as the top prospect in his class. McDonald’s All-American, Naismith Prep Player of the Year, First-team Parade All-American, and even though he had the grades, he bypassed college and took his game straight to the NBA from High School.
Kobe went to Lower Merion HS right outside of Philadelphia and began his quest for greatness. He later would go straight to the NBA from High School and eventually become one of the best players in history. Photo courtesy of USA Today
Kobe was drafted to the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA draft and was immediately traded to the Lakers. Nobody really wanted to take a chance on a skinny kid out of High School but when the Lakers traded for him he vowed to make everybody who doubted him pay for not believing in him. He did just that and it was amazing to watch how he developed and tirelessly worked on his game. Aside from the 5 Championships that he was able to bring to the Lakers, there were so many accomplishments that he accumulated in purple and gold. Bryant was an 18-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA team, 12-time member of the All-Defensive team, 2-time Finals MVP, and the 2008 NBA Most Valuable player, and the list goes on. The last basketball memory of Kobe is when he scored 60 versus the Utah Jazz in his very last game. That moment will live on forever.
With the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA draft the Charlotte Hornets chose Bryant and dealt him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant right out of high school was eager to make his mark on the league. Photo courtesy of Slamonline.com
Every basketball fan knows that Kobe was a great player, but Kobe was a legend for more reasons than his play on the basketball court. Bryant’s Dear Basketball won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film at Sunday’s Academy Awards. The six-minute film that he won the award for is based on a poem Bryant wrote that was published in The Players Tribune in 2015 when he announced his retirement from the NBA.
One of Kobe Bryant’s most prized possessions. Bryant’s Dear Basketball won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film at the Academy Awards. Photo courtesy of Fox
The most important attribute, in my opinion, was his philanthropic ventures and the way he gave back to the kids in communities around the globe. Recently he made an appearance to the Dunlevy Milbank Center in Harlem, NY as part of the Mamba League and spoke to the kids about getting focused and not putting a cap on their dreams and aspirations. Although I missed his visit, I’m glad he showed up for the children. I once sat in the same seat at Milbank and I know what someone like Kobe could do for a young kids morale. Hearing Kobe in person might’ve been the catalyst to changing a kid’s life for the better. Aside from basketball or sports in general Kobe was just a great human being.
Kobe was on a warpath and killed every opponent standing in his way of earning 5 championships. Photo courtesy of SI.com
All Things Hoops would like to send our profound condolences to the Bryant family and anyone else affected by this tragedy. This is one of the worst days in the history of professional sports and I hope that Kobe and his daughter are truly resting in peace. The void that you left cannot be filled but we are gracious to have had the opportunity to have been a witness to your greatness. Sleep easy King and Princess. ??