As we grow up we often look up to role models regardless of our passions. We love watching those who can excel at the highest level whether it be in a sport, craft etc. During my childhood, I had a passion for basketball. I simply couldn’t get enough of it. Wherever I was, I was doing something related to the sport. From playing with my friends, watching on TV or playing as my favorite players the sport became a huge part of my life. Personally I grew up idolizing LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Every time I saw them do something amazing on television I would run out to my hoop in my driveway to try it for myself, all the while pretending I was alongside them on the court. Many in our generation idolized Kobe so much to the point that nothing could be thrown away without yelling his name while taking the shot.
This idolization has even been seen from the games greats. Just as Michael Jordan looked up to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, Kobe looked up to Michael and LeBron looked up to Kobe. This past Saturday was a special heartwarming day for the game of basketball. During his game against the 76ers, LeBron James passed Kobe Bryant in points, placing him 3rd on the all time scoring list, an event that most people saw coming. Kobe himself said it during his farewell tour that LeBron would be the next to overcome him.
Unfortunately, the next day was one that would not hold the same good news. On Sunday January 26th, 2020 Kobe Bryant was flying in a helicopter with his daughter and a few others when the helicopter crashed.
Upon hearing this news, the entire sports world went into shock, reluctant to accept what had just happened. In the Spurs vs Raptors game today both teams agreed to take a 24 second violation to start the game in honor of Kobe and the number 24 that he wore for half of his career. Dedications were also made at the Pro Bowl as well as the Grammy’s which was held in Staples Center, Kobe’s former home stadium. It is hard for everyone to move on from the life of someone who had such a great impact on a sport for such a long time. For the rest of this blog I’m going to take some time to remember a few of his great moments playing the sport.
June 26, 1996 – Kobe Bryant was drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets and traded to the Los Angeles Lakers where he would stay for 20 seasons and win 5 championships.
June 18, 2000 – Kobe won his first ever NBA championship in Los Angeles, beating the pacers in a 6 game series.
April 14, 2004 – He made two impossibly difficult shots in crunch time vs the Portland Trail Blazers to win in the second overtime.
January 22, 2006 – Kobe scored a career high 81 points against the Raptors, the most points scored in the modern day NBA.
August 24, 2008 – Bryant won his first gold medal vs Spain, he was also awarded MVP of the regular season in 2008.
June 17, 2010 – Kobe won his 5th NBA championship against the Boston Celtics
April 13, 2016 – He played his final game in the NBA, scoring 60 points to win the game.
March 4, 2018 – Kobe won his first Oscar for his film “Dear Basketball”
Going forward, it is important for us to continue to enjoy life as Kobe did and as he once put it, “life is too short to be bogged down or discouraged.”