RIP Kobe Bryant
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Like everyone else, I was absolutely shocked (and still am) when I first heard the news that Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash earlier today. It was that type of shock that takes your breath away for a second because he was such a star in the game of basketball. He’s easily one of the best to ever play the game and someone I grew up watching and playing with on the video games. When you’re a kid, the biggest superstars in each sport seem almost immortal, even if you don’t pull for them. And that’s how Kobe Bryant seemed to me. I was never a Lakers fan, and for the most part, didn’t pull for Kobe Bryant. But I always had the ultimate respect for him because he was simply one of the best. I’m too young to remember much of Michael Jordan’s playing days, so I’ve always considered watching Kobe the closest thing I would ever get to watching Michael Jordan play basketball.
When I think back on the NBA while I was growing up, those dominant Laker teams are one of the first things to come to mind. It seemed like they won every single year. Kobe and Shaq were an iconic duo that will forever be remembered dominating the league. So even though I didn’t pull for the Lakers and got tired of them winning all the time, it was always fun to watch them play or watch their highlights on SportsCenter because Kobe and Shaq were just so good together.
Kobe’s mindset while he was on the court competing was one of the things I really came to appreciate about him once I got older. He had the ultimate “killer” mentality while he competed. And as I watched the overall style of play in the NBA get softer and friendlier, I really admired his old school “killer” mentality even more. He had no friends on the court and would try to destroy them at all costs, even though I’m sure he was friendly with them after the games. It was strictly about winning with him. As a former athlete, I greatly admired that about him.
And the intensity he brought didn’t start and stop with each game. He carried the same intensity and mentality to anything basketball-related such as practices, training, and watching film. I’ve heard many stories, as I’m sure you have, from former teammates about his overall intensity. Some players had a difficult time playing with him because of it and others thrived on it. But those are the qualities of a winner. Those are qualities of a legend. And a winner and legend are what Kobe Bryant was.
We could talk about his accolades until the sun comes up, but there’s no need to do that. I know them, you know them, we all know them at this point. They are part of what tell the story of his phenomenal career. They are part of what makes him one of the most synonymous names with the sport of basketball. The other part is what I wanted to touch on, and that’s his legacy. There’s a reason people shout “Kobe!” when they are shooting a piece of wadded up paper in the trash can. He had an immeasurable impact on the sport and will continue to do so for a long time because so many players and prospective players grew up watching him and model their games after his.
So, while I type these words while feeling speechless at the same time, I just want to do two things. The first is I want everyone to remember not to take anything for granted. We’re not owed anything here on this earth and each day truly is a blessing. Enjoy each day and each moment to the fullest, because you just never know when everything will be taken away. And the second is to remember Kobe Bryant. We all remember him in different ways, like I remember watching him have so many competitive battles against my favorite childhood basketball player Vince Carter. But in the end we all remember him the same way. A legend. A legend I consider myself fortunate that I was able to witness play. RIP Kobe.
Garett