Remembering Kobe Bean Bryant
By: Wayne
I have written about 40 articles since I started my sports page a few months ago. None have been nearly as challenging to write as this one, and it feels like nothing I write will ever be as important as this, a tribute to Kobe Bryant. When the unthinkable was confirmed Sunday afternoon, I was stunned and heartbroken. No one meant more to the city of Los Angeles and the Southern California area than Kobe. Growing up in Orange County, not too far from where Kobe resided in Newport Beach, I felt the impact of the legendary figure on a near-daily basis. I was lucky enough to see him take shots at my local JCC, where I would later run pickup games with my friends, and playing on the same court as Kobe feels surreal to this day. Spotting him at the local Pavillions or Starbucks was not uncommon, and Kobe always had a smile on his face, happy to snap a picture and say hello to his fans. Kobe once said, “dedication sees dreams come true.” In the years since his retirement, living by the beach, coaching his daughter’s AAU team, and spending time with his family, producing sports media content the way he wanted - it finally felt like his hard work was paying off.
One of my favorite quotes of all time is when Craig Sager accepted the 2016 Jimmy V Award for perseverance saying "time is something that cannot be bought; it cannot be wagered with God, and it is not in endless supply, time is simply how you live your life." It was always clear that Sager had a different outlook on life. When he passed away from leukemia a few months later, the NBA was overcome with sadness and came together to celebrate the extraordinary life of an inspiring figure. Death is never easy to grapple with - it challenges every instinct we have. Eat, drink, make money, make friends, fall in love - does any of it matter after we're gone? Sager knew it did, and he left behind a legacy of perseverance and hope even as he was faced with a life-threatening disease. His legacy inspires people to this day, just like Kobe’s will - both are an eternal light burning for hope, determination, and a relentless drive to succeed.
Legacy is a funny thing, particularly in the world of sports. The end of an athlete's career elicits the same type of sentimental longing as the death of a dear friend. Kobe once said, “it’s the one thing you can control. You are responsible for how people remember you - or don’t. So don’t take it lightly”. Everything Kobe did helped build his legacy, and when we watched Kobe Bryant drop 60 points in his final game and leave the NBA behind with a signature "Mamba out" mic drop, the basketball world was overcome with emotion. Fans were forlorn over the end of an era with one of the best players any of us had ever seen. However, we also rejoiced over the culmination of a legendary career. I feel absolutely blessed to have grown up watching Kobe Bryant play basketball. I was never a Lakers fan per se, as I always tend to root for the underdog, and the glitz and glamor of the purple and gold have never totally fit those criteria. But it was impossible to not be captivated by the endless determination and will to win that Bryant showcased on a nightly basis.
The pantheon of Kobe’s career came as he willed a less-talented Lakers team on paper to a 7-game finals win over some all-time greats in Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo - a team that had bested them in the finals two years prior. Bryant took his game to another level, winning his second finals MVP award and his 5th finals series. After the series was over, Bryant spoke about how he just knew the Lakers would win. He didn’t know how, but he knew he would find a way to make it happen. The raw confidence he showed at this moment was characteristic of his entire career. He knew he was destined to be one of the all-time greats from the minute he came into the league. When asked by reporters during his rookie season, if he was surprised at how quickly he had made the transition successfully to the NBA, he said no with a sly grin on his face in classic Kobe fashion. Despite the criticism he faced for making the jump to the NBA from high school at a time when this wasn’t universally accepted, he remained steadfast in his belief that he was ready - and he proved he was.
The 2010 Finals were the last Kobe would win, try as he might to match Michael Jordan's 6 titles. Bryant had a deep-seated desire to win, and this, coupled with his tremendous talent, made him one of my favorite athletes of all time to watch. One of the many Kobe memories that have been on replay in my head over the past 24 hours came towards the end of the 2012-13 season. Kobe was desperate to win his 6th NBA Finals that season. In a lineup featuring, albeit declining, superstar talent in Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, and Pau Gasol, the team was expected to compete for another championship. Instead, they had struggled all year - with multiple changes in coaches and offensive systems on their way to the 7th seed in the West. April 12, 2013. Kobe, with the season winding down and desperate to clinch a playoff spot, was playing as hard as he ever had, getting close to 48 minutes played in some games. General manager Mitch Kupchak pleaded with Kobe to slow down and preserve his body, but in his quest for the playoffs, he had played at least 40 minutes for 7 straight games. On this particular Saturday night, in a close game against the Warriors, Kobe had played every minute and was on his way to 34 points. He had gone to the ground a couple of times, clutching both legs, and the wear and tear of the long season was clearly starting to catch up with him. Still, he seemed to will his team to victory as he mustered heavily contested shots all over the floor.
With 3 minutes and 8 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter, the Lakers trailed by 2 as Kobe looked to drive into the paint. He was fouled by Harrison Barnes as he went to the ground yet again, but this time he did not bounce back up. He grabbed at the back of his left calf and was in obvious pain. The Lakers called a timeout, at which point Kobe must have known the situation was dire. Kobe gingerly stepped back onto the court to shoot his free throws on what would later be diagnosed as a torn Achilles. He sank them both, giving the Lakers a chance to go on and win the game before he made his way back to the locker room. On this night, as he had done so many times before, Kobe taught us the importance of self-sacrifice and perseverance. He put his body on the line for his beloved Lakers and paid the ultimate price as he would never fully recover from this injury. Most individuals can’t even stand up after an Achilles injury, let alone walk back and forth across the court and make two free throws - doctors have since said this feat defied medical odds. Kobe truly left his heart on the court that night and gave it every ounce of resolve he had.
In Greek mythology, Achilles was a hero of the Trojan war and the greatest warrior of all time. His mother, Thetis, foretold that he could choose to live a short life but be immortalized in his accomplishments or a long life in obscurity. Achilles’ weakness was his heel, where his mother held him as she dipped him into the river Styx as an infant. The river made him invincible everywhere but that single spot. Eventually, this became the reason he met his end, as he was hit in the heel with an arrow during battle. Kobe’s career more or less ended with that brutal Achilles tear during the game against the Warriors, which he fought to win until the bitter end. On NBA’s the Jump, Tracy McGrady gave a loving tribute to his former competitor and friend, saying a young Kobe used to tell him he wanted to die young and be immortalized like Achilles. There is no doubt that number 24 will live on in immortality the way he would have wanted, by inspiring the hundreds who knew him personally and millions more who never had the chance to meet him but were touched by the Mamba mentality.
As the 2015 NBA season began, the Lakers were coming off a handful of disappointing finishes, and the health of their Mamba was in serious question. Kobe had given everything he had to the Lakers. The Mamba mentality was both a blessing and a curse, but ultimately took a toll on his body and ended his career sooner than any of us, including Kobe would have wanted. He spoke about his love for the game in his Player's Tribune article announcing his retirement titled "Dear Basketball": "A love so deep I gave you my all - from my mind and body to my spirit and soul. [This season] is all I have left to give. My heart can take the pounding, my mind can handle the grind, but my body knows it's time to say goodbye - and that's ok, I'm ready to let you go." Before the Lakers' game against the Pacers that night, a letter from Kobe was handed out to Lakers fans which said "what you've done for me is far greater than anything I've done for you... my love for this city, this team and for each of you will never fade. Thank you for this incredible journey."
That 2015 season was Kobe's 20th with the Lakers, surpassing John Stockton for the most seasons with one franchise in NBA history. It's hard to fathom that was just 5 years ago, with the new era in the NBA defined by player movement from team-to-team. That was Kobe, though. Determined to win, not for his personal satisfaction, but in honor of his fans and the entire city of Los Angeles. After announcing his retirement, Kobe didn’t want to be treated any differently by opposing fans. He fed on the boos and negativity he received on the road and didn't want it to change just because he was a retiring legend. The opposing fans wouldn't have it - they wanted to celebrate him. Road venues featured tribute videos and standing ovations, and fans cheered for him everywhere he went - even the stadiums where he had ripped out the hearts of competitors countless times before. In his final game, Kobe made sure to leave us with something awesome to remember him by, becoming the oldest player to score 60 points in a game with the Lakers' iconic victory over the Utah Jazz.
Kobe Bryant finished his career with the 3rd most points scored of all time (33,643), a thousand more than Michael Jordan. It seemed unfathomable that someone could break Jordan's staggering record, but Kobe had the raw talent, killer instinct, and endless determination that Jordan displayed at various points of his career. So too, does LeBron James. James's Lakers went into Philadelphia Saturday with James just 18 points away from passing Kobe on the all-time scoring list. It was a seemingly poetic place for it to happen as Kobe was born in Philly and played high school ball at Lower Merion in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. When LeBron passed Kobe with a bucket in the third quarter of the game, which was nationally televised on ESPN, a wave of energy passed over the crowd before it was even announced on the jumbotron. Kobe tweeted out later in the night, "Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother #33644".
That was Kobe's last tweet ever, something that is still achingly difficult to process. Kobe was supposed to be invincible, the one guy you could always count on to deliver even when the odds were stacked against him. It’s still incomprehensible that he’s no longer with us. Tragically, Kobe spent his final few minutes unable to do the one thing more important to him than even his beloved basketball, protect his daughter. Ironically, it was his desire to maximize quality time as a parent that led him to utilize helicopters as a mode of transportation in the first place.
In watching videos of Kobe Bryant speak about his daughter Gianna, I was struck by how glowingly he talked up her basketball talent. One video, in particular, with Bryant on Jimmy Kimmel, stuck with me, as he raved about his daughter’s determination to make the WNBA and become a successful basketball player like her dad. Other videos showed Bryant interacting with his kids before and after basketball games, along with his wife Vanessa, putting the devoted father in plain view of the world. Contemplating this loss for Vanessa and her remaining children is the most painful part of all. Kobe was more than an elite basketball talent - he was a loving father and husband.
Every athlete wants to be remembered for their greatness on some level - it’s the nature of playing a sport in front of a massive audience both in person and through the eyes of the media. Kobe was always aware of how what he did on the court would impact the world’s perception of him. More than just his personal greatness, Kobe wanted to be remembered through the way he inspired others. He affected so many people around the world with his relentless drive and commitment to excellence. Kobe once said, “the most important thing is to try to inspire so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.” He taught so many what it took to succeed at the highest level, and basketball players everywhere were touched by the Mamba mentality. Kobe took young NBA players under his wing - Jayson Tatum, Trae Young, DeMar DeRozan, Luka Doncic, etc. - and taught them how to succeed at the highest level. He also famously challenged Giannis Antetokounmpo to win the MVP before this past NBA season - the Greek superstar was able to deliver on Kobe’s ultimatum. Kobe always had an innate eye for talent in basketball and has shaped the career of so many players in the new generation. He always brought out the best in everyone who interacted with him, teammates, and competitors alike, and even after his career ended, players worked incredibly hard to honor his legacy and what he meant to the game.
Many players struggle with the transition to retirement after a lengthy professional career as the one Kobe enjoyed. They long for the constant competition they previously thrived on and struggle to find the same level of satisfaction from other things in life. Not Kobe - the certainty with which he played the game of basketball followed him into retirement, as he seemed to have everything planned out in his post-basketball life. Instead of sitting courtside at every Lakers game, he started coaching his daughter Gianna’s AAU team and doing a damn good job of impacting the lives of young athletes the way he always had. Instead of reminiscing on his playing days on an NBA TV show, he started his own show called Detail on ESPN+, where he described in great detail the attributes and tendencies of some of the NBA’s brightest new stars, covering the sport the way he wanted. Instead of talking in vain about a misguided comeback attempt like many professional athletes had before him, he produced an Oscar-winning short movie called Dear Basketball, in which he channeled his love for the game. Kobe was decisive in directing his passion for basketball during his career into championships he knew he would win. After his career was over, he was confident in how he would spread that love throughout the basketball world after his retirement - especially to children. Kobe was so proud of the way he impacted young kids through children’s podcasts and books. He had planned on creating an entire world of characters similar to that of Walt Disney. He was so aware of his place in people’s hearts and had an undying desire to give back to the fans he inspired every time he stepped on the court. He had so much more in store, his potential was boundless. Kobe was just getting started.
Kobe meant so much to so many people all over the world, and reconciling the fact that he is gone seems impossible. As people offer up emotionally powerful tributes outside Staples Center and across the globe, I am confident that Kobe’s memory will live on forever. He always strived to inspire others, and what he has done for this next generation of basketball - both boys and girls - will never be forgotten. I have spent the past few days reminiscing on the highlights of his career - watching videos and interviews, listening to podcasts, reading articles. It seems that everyone has a unique Kobe story to share, and he impacted people both on the court and off. He wasn’t a perfect human being, but he always learned from his mistakes and used them to better himself moving forward. Like Achilles, Kobe lived a short life but will live on in immortality with his outstanding basketball resume - 5-time champion, 2-time Finals MVP, 1-time MVP, 18-time All-Star - but far beyond all that he’ll be immortalized as an exceptional person. A stellar husband, father, brother, friend, competitor, and teammate. Achilles roughly translates to “he who has the people distressed.” Kobe has us all distressed this week as we mourn his loss and the loss of Gianna and the other souls who perished on the helicopter. All we can do now is carry on his memory the way he would have wanted, by giving everything we have to whatever we are passionate about and by being the very best versions of ourselves. Kobe brought the best out of everyone in his life, and to honor him, I challenge anyone reading this to find a way to channel the Mamba mentality. Kobe once said, “heroes come and go, but legends are forever.” Kobe, you are gone far too soon, but your legacy lives on forever, and you will be dearly missed.
Afterword: I wanted to take the time to thank a few people for helping me write this. My amazing mom, for being the best free proofreader/editor I could ever ask for. JP, for being the biggest Kobe fan I’ve ever met and continuing his steadfast love for a legend. Schwartz, for writing an accompanying piece from the perspective of a Boston Celtics fan, detailing what is possibly the greatest rivalry the NBA has ever seen. Adrian Wojnarowski, Ramona Shelburne, Rachel Nichols, Zach Lowe, Bill Simmons, and so many more for using their platforms (articles, podcasts, shows, etc.) to honor Kobe and inspire me throughout the writing of this article. Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lamar Odom, and Tracy McGrady, to name a few, for your touching tributes to your fallen brother and friend in the aftermath of the accident. Devin Booker, Trae Young, DeMar DeRozan, Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic, and so many others for the ways you have honored Kobe during games over the past few days and will continue to do so. The NBA will never be the same; Southern California will never be the same; basketball will never be the same - and while Kobe is gone, he has undoubtedly made his impact in the world and left it a better place.
