Kobe Bryant, NBA legend and regarded as the finest basketball player of all time, died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California plunged the sporting world into gloom Sunday. Kobe Bryant was 41. Along with Kobe, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna was one among the nine other passengers who died in the crash. The news has come a shock to not just KObe fandom but the NBA community and others who have always held him high.
As screens began flashing the dateline ”Kobe Bryant, 1978-2020”, the Bryant fandom struggled to come to terms with their hero”s mention in past tense. Bryant is frequently hailed as one of the acebest basketball minds” by the game”s greatest stars.
“Most people will remember Kobe as the magnificent athlete who inspired a whole generation of basketball players. But I will always remember him as a man who was much more than an athlete”, said NBA”s All-Time Leading Scorer Kareem Abdul Jabbar, in a video statement. Los Angeles Lakers Star LeBron James broke down after learning of Kobe Bryant”s passing. James passed Kobe Bryant on the all-time scoring list barely 24 hours ago.
Tennis star Maria Sharapova tweeted that she would never forget Bryant”s “generosity” and the time he “set aside in some of my most difficult moments.I am forever grateful. My heart is with you and your beautiful family.” Words cannot describe the pain I”m feeling, a statement from Chicago Bulls” 15-time NBA star Michael Jordan said. “I loved Kobe. He was like a little brother to me”, he said. When he was barely 18, Kobe Bryant announced famously, “I”ve decided to skip college and take my talent to the N.B.A”. Around that time, Bob Costas a career sportscaster interviewed Bryant and today pressed the rewind button to those memories as news broke.
Bryant Father was also an NBA player
Bryant”s father too was an NBA player and trained Kobe in both the US and Italy. Bryant never wore any uniform other than the Lakers” which is increasingly rare in pro sports and certainly in pro basketball. Bryant wore two numbers though – 8 and 24. At many games around the US on Sunday, players took a 24 second shot-clock violation or 8 second backcourt violations to honour Bryant”s memory and his legendary jersey numbers as applause for Bryant”s achievements rang through the bleachers.
Fans dressed in Kobe Bryant gear thronged Staples Center in Los Angeles which put up a giant screen honouring the basketball legend. Bryant was the winner of the NBAs Most Valuable Player Award for the 2007-08 season, and the Finals MVP in 2009 and 2010. Bryant”s career highlights include a jaw dropping 81-point game in 2006 that is the second-highest single-game total in NBA. history. He won gold for the US. Basketball in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Bryant also has an Academy Award to his name for his animated short film Dear Basketball in 2018.
Kobe and Gigi💔 This is incredibly difficult to process. I will never forget your generosity, and the time you set aside in some of my most difficult moments. I am forever grateful. My heart is with you and your beautiful family. pic.twitter.com/rnGI8o1p5L
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) January 26, 2020
Bryant was associated with the Nike brand for almost his entire career and signed on for a $40 million contract in the early 2000s. “He was a beloved member of the Nike family. We will miss him greatly. Mamba forever”, Nike said in a statement. The ”Mamba” name became a metaphor for Kobe Bryant after Nike released a commercial in 2011 featuring an idea called The Black Mamba, which is portrayed as Bryant”s alter-ego. The Black Mamba, is being pursued by a crime lord who wants to get his hands on Mamba”s shoes. Bryant wore the first Mamba shoes during the 2005-2006 NBA. season, including in the game in which he scored 81 points in January 2006.
LA lost a legend today. 💔 Fans have placed flowers, candles, jerseys, artwork and more outside Staples Center and LA Live to mourn Lakers great Kobe Bryant’s death. #TwentyFourever pic.twitter.com/tr6DUnn1VI
— Whitney Ashton (@whit_ashton) January 27, 2020
