I would always wonder when I would get around to writing about Kobe Bryant. After all, he is my idol. He is the reason why I love the game of Basketball, why I watch it almost every day. He has made the biggest influence on my life outside of my immediate family. I imagined an article that would make sense of his career, a career that is so misunderstood. A career that was so accomplished, yet so many tried to diminish. He was so loved by many, and yet so hated by others. I wanted to try and make sense of all of it.. eventually. One day, I’ll write about his playing career. Today is not that day. I never thought I’d be writing about Kobe Bryant in the past tense.
There was a presence that surrounded Kobe Bryant that transcended beyond the game of basketball. When Kobe came to town, you felt it. When you watched him play, you couldn’t take your eyes off him. His skills on both of the sides of the ball cannot be understated. His competitiveness was otherworldly. The Kobe Face? Legendary. The Mamba Mentality? Transcending not just basketball, but sports. He was larger than life. Even in death, he made the world stand still. His best moments on the court-81 points in 2006, 62 points through 3 quarters against a Mavericks team that reached the Finals in 2005, 61 in MSG in 2009, beating the Celtics to capture his fifth and last championship in 2010. Those moments come to mind immediately, and yet that’s a short story compared to the totality of his career and his life.
What hurts the most is how content he seemed with retirement from his playing days, how happy he was to spend time with his daughters and wife more. He wins an Oscar less than two years after his retirement, something so ludicrous only Kobe would even think about, and yet he accomplished it. His mentoring of younger NBA players, defining a new generation by inviting them to The Mamba Academy was something to behold. He was such an advocate for women’s sports, not just Basketball, attending sporting events with his daughters constantly. He coached his 13 year old daughter Gianna’s team, and he was ready to brag about her to whoever was willing to listen. He was going to make his post-playing career just as big as his Basketball career, and he was going to do it his way.
None of this still feels real. It’s all so heartbreaking. None of it makes sense. Ever cry so much it feels like you ran out of tears? He was immortal. He made two free throws on a torn achilles. It hurts to even think about the possibility, that in actuality, is a reality. I pray for Vanessa, the three girls, and the families who lost their loved ones in this tragic accident. We were supposed to see Kobe become a billionaire and for him to share his wisdom for years to come. We were supposed to see Gianna become the face of the WNBA. That’s how the dominoes were falling. We will never see another Kobe Bryant interview, or him breaking down another players game tape.
My biggest regret is that all the outpouring of love he received in the shock of his death, he never fully received while he was alive. I don’t ever want to have another Kobe Bryant debate about how good he was, or where he ranks on the all-time list, at least not for a long time. It all just feels so silly now. I just want to think about all the good moments and all the memories he left, not just me, but whoever has picked up a basketball because of him. I will miss him every single day, and Basketball will never be the same without him. 41 years seems like a short time, but Kobe Bryant lived a life so full he fulfilled three normal lifetimes. The Mamba Mentality will live on through his life, and his influence on basketball players will be passed down for generations to come.
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