You asked for his hustle, and he gave you his heart.
On January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna, was on his way to the Mamba Academy for basketball practice. Seven others were also on board.
Sadness and shock are the first words that come to mind when describing citizens once they got the news. When asked where you were when this news broke, you’ll undoubtedly remember.
The world seemed to have taken a pause. Now many of us, including us at Per Sources, are experiencing all of the feels. As we mourn the loss of a legend, we at Per Sources remember the legacy of Kobe Bryant following his shocking death.
Remembering Kobe: The Basketball Player
Drafted 13th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft, Kobe Bryant was just an 18-year-old with the city of Los Angeles on his shoulders. Coming into a prestigious franchise, Bryant elevated the team and the city to new heights. He played 20 years with the Lakers and managed to put together a Hall of Fame career. His most notable achievements as a basketball player included:
- 5-time NBA Champion, 2-time NBA Finals MVP
- 2007-08 NBA MVP
- 18-time All-Star
- 11-time first-team All-NBA
- 9-time first-team All-Defense
- 33,643 career points (4th all-time scoring list)
- 2-time NBA Scoring Champion
- 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist
Kobe Bryant served as one of the most important pieces to what was the NBA’s last three-peat of NBA Championships. Even when some thought he couldn’t get it done after Shaquille O’Neal departed, he proved them wrong.
We all know the type of person Bryant was as a basketball player. To some, he’s the greatest of all-time. Over the course of his career, Bryant accepted every obstacle and challenge with open arms. It’s hard to love a guy who came onto the court every day with the intention of ripping the soul out of your chest, but that’s what separated Kobe Bryant from everyone else.
Through the highs and lows, Bryant stuck with the Lakers. He was the player that was going to put up 1,500 shots before and after practice. For the fortunate few that were Bryant’s teammates, they knew that he was going to call them out every time something was off. And, if they chose to challenge that, they knew they were probably wrong.
There’s nothing else to call this other than the mark of a true leader. Accountability was something that led Bryant to hold both himself and his teammates to a higher standard. He did whatever it took to win. One of the best examples of that fell in the 2008 Olympics as a part of the US Men’s National Basketball Team.
Former Director of USA Basketball Jerry Colangelo told Kobe Bryant that he couldn’t be the scorer he was for the Lakers, for the United States. Rather, Colangelo asked him to be a distributor for the team. When asking some ignorant people, it’s easy to say that it’s impossible because of the mantra that Kobe Bryant was a “ball hog”. However, Bryant was far from it. His response simply was “I will do whatever you want.” He just wanted to win. That shows character and sacrifice from someone who, at that point in his career, had the ball in his hands more often than not.
Everybody associated with the NBA community is affected by the loss of Kobe Bryant. Bryant has had an impact on teams, players, and coaches around the league. Upon his retirement 2016, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Pau Gasol, Dwayne Wade, and more thanked Bryant for everything he gave to the game.
Remembering Kobe: Bigger Than Basketball
Kobe Bryant is most likely the greatest Los Angeles Laker of all-time. After Bryant’s passing, it’s easy to turn to the numbers and his impressive accomplishments. However, through coverage of ESPN, ABC News, and CNN, we learned that Kobe Bryant was a person. He was someone who elevated more than just the game of basketball. Kobe Bryant was a loving father who took every step to show his daughters how great they can be one day. From lessons on the sideline of NBA games to supporting women’s basketball, Bryant dedicated post-retirement to his daughters.
Bryant recognized early on that he couldn’t play the game of basketball forever. It was only one phase of his career. However, that didn’t mean that he couldn’t continue to give back to the game. After his retirement from the NBA in 2016, Bryant coached at the Mamba Academy, a sports academy in Southern California. And, if that was not enough, he went on to win an Academy Award for an animated short film that was based on a 2015 poem he wrote titled “Dear Basketball”. Kobe Bryant was simply an icon.
The “Mamba Mentality” that we all speak to expands far beyond just an athlete. It’s for anyone with a goal in sight. Bryant taught us hard work, determination, and how to win not only in basketball, but also in life.
Stephen A. Smith, who’s been following Bryant since his high school days, reiterated the person that he was off the court. He pointed to businessmen and women to show how much wisdom Bryant bestowed upon them and stated the fact that he always looked at what was next. Above all, Kobe Bryant was (and taught everyone to never be) satisfied. It didn’t matter how much you were doing because, in the end, there’s always more that you can accomplish.
Kobe Bryant: What He Means To Us
Aiden Hawkins
My earliest basketball memory comes from the 2010 NBA Finals where Kobe and the Lakers took on the Boston Celtics. It was Game 7, win or go home. I remember sitting next to my dad screaming at the television for Boston to just stop Kobe. I remember him jumping on top of the scorerâs table screaming to the crowd at Staples. From then on, I loved the game of basketball. I wanted to feel the same emotions Kobe did. Though I grew up a Boston Celtics fan, I always supported Kobe.
I remember going in my driveway and working on my right shoulder post-fade so I could be like Kobe. I stayed up on April 13 until two in the morning just to watch Kobe “Bean” Bryant’s last game. Iâll never forget crying as he said âMamba Outâ. I sit here in awe of the impact Kobe has had on me. If it wasnât for Kobe I wouldn’t love the game as I do today. You showed me how to work, how to love, and how to feel. My life will never be the same. A part of me left today. Because of you, I love the game of basketball. Thank you, Kobe Bean Bryant. Mamba out.
Yaw Bonsu
Kobe Bryant epitomized what hard work and determination meant. The passion, dedication, blood, sweat, and tears that he brought to what he loved is something that’ll forever resonate with me. Bryant taught me to keep going and to never be satisfied. As someone who wants to go into the cut-throat world of journalism, I recognize that it’ll only happen if I take life how Kobe did.
Kobe teaches me to always be the hardest working person in the room. From his profession to post-retirement to his family, being the man Kobe Bryant was during his 41 years will be difficult to live up to. But, it’s people like him that we should all strive to be, not only for us but those around us. Bryant allows me to value hard work even more than I already have. He taught me that it takes a lot to stand out, and even when I do, it’s not enough. The Mamba Mentality is something that I’ll carry with me forever.
Kobe Bryant: Rest In Peace
At 41, Kobe Bryant leaves us as an icon. He wasn’t just a basketball player. He was an athlete, father, writer, producer, and an inspiration to everyone around him. His heart beat differently than everyone he competed against. If you idolized, were mesmerized by, or inspired by Kobe Bryant, may you keep his legacy going. Never shoot a paper ball into the garbage can without yelling his name. Remember the greatness that came with the man you know as Kobe “Bean” Bryant. May his legacy leave on forever.
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