A year ago today, Kobe Bean Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and 7 others passed away after a helicopter crash in Calabassas.
But we are not here today to dwell on the sadness of that day. To be honest, we’ve done that enough during 2020, haven’t we? On the day of Kobe’s death, it felt like something bigger. It was the loss of an icon. The loss of a true legend not just in sports, but someone who transcended the word legend.
I’ll never forget that day. Not because of what we lost. But for the legacy that Kobe left us with. And not on the basketball court, but how to live your life to the fullest and chase your dreams unapologetically. Little did we know how the rest of the year would turn out.
A world ravaged by a seemingly never-ending pandemic. We’ve all been there, right? We all know someone who has been affected by COVID. Unfortunately, we all know people who have lost their lives to COVID.
But there are lessons to take from Kobe Bryant that have helped me and I’m sure countless others get through the hellscape that was 2020.
Kobe taught us to take NOTHING in life for granted. He tried to teach us to appreciate everything and never stop working for what you believe in. Trust that the people you love will be by your side while you follow your dream.
KOBE BRYANT, THE MOTIVATOR
“You gotta learn from it, and you’ve got to face it.”
Listening to Kobe Bryant speak at any time over the last 20 years was always a masterclass in motivation, success, and having discipline in your craft. “If you want first place, come play with me. If you want second place, go play with someone else.”
Kobe Bryant lived his life to become the greatest basketball player in the world. He was willing to sacrifice everything to be the greatest. Although it might not have been evident early in his career when he introduced the #MambaMentality it peeled back a layer to Kobe’s process that we never fully understood.
“The Mamba Mentality is about obsession. It is about prioritizing your professional goals over having a normal, balanced life. It is about playing without fear, mastering your craft and wanting not only to win, but to dominate. It’s Bryant airballing all those 3s against Utah in the playoffs, then working on his shot all night in a high school gym. It’s Bryant approaching his first matchup against Michael Jordan thinking that he’s going to destroy him. It’s Bryant, furious that Allen Iverson had gotten the best of him, reading every article about Iverson and watching every game A.I. had played, searching for weaknesses to exploit.” – James Herbert, CBS Sports.
Kobe gave everything to the game of basketball. He touched everyone from NBA players to basketball bloggers in Buffalo, New York. Kobe’s inspiration is felt beyond the world of sports. That is an impact that cannot possibly be understated.
“When I retire, I don’t want to think I wish I had done more.”
Let’s celebrate the life of Kobe Bryant with the three greatest moments in Kobe’s illustrious NBA career. These three moments are a part of the journey that made Kobe become the icon that he will remain until the end of time.
81 POINTS
After the three-peat. After all the drama with Shaquille O’Neal that ended up with him traded to the Miami Heat (they would win the title this year), Kobe had something to prove. The year before, Kobe averaged 35 ppg establishing himself as the premier scorer in the league post-Shaq. But they missed the playoffs. Kobe had to do even more. He had to become a true leader.
This year, he averaged 31 ppg and the Lakers would make the playoffs after missing the previous year, only to lose to the Phoenix Suns in the first round. But the 2005-06 NBA season will forever be associated with 81 points. That night, the questions about whether Bryant would contend for another title were answered. It was not a matter of if, but when.
There were struggles along the way. Kobe had to deal with his own demons. He was not a perfect person and made mistakes that some people could not forgive him for. If the reverence of Kobe rubs you the wrong way because of this, it’s completely understandable and valid.
But as much as we deserve to be judged on our worst moments in life, we should also be judged on how we learn from those moments and try to move on to live a better life and own up to those mistakes. It’s what makes us all human. And during these years of struggle for Bryant, we were reminded of just that.
No matter how superhuman our favorite athletes appear, they are humans who make mistakes. Sometimes grave mistakes, just like us. It’s not about getting knocked down. It’s about how you look at yourself in the mirror when you get back up.
Kobe tried to change his life for the better. Whether you forgave him or not, you must respect that the man tried to live his life differently and make up for the mistakes and arrogance of his youth.
5 NBA TITLES
In 2009 and 2010, the collective NBA world was ready to move on to Lebron James as their savior. There had been hype for YEARS about the possibility of Kobe vs. Lebron in the finals. We never got closer than 2009.
The Los Angeles Lakers held up their end of the bargain. After losing to the Boston Celtics in the Finals the previous year, the Lakers returned to the Finals
The Lakers dispatched the Nuggets in 6 games, and on the other side, Lebron James and the Cavaliers were doing battle with the Orlando Magic. It was destiny, right? NBA fans could officially pass the torch if Lebron beat Kobe, or Kobe would cement himself as the greatest of a generation.
We all know what happened. Lebron didn’t show up to the party. Kobe won the whole damn thing.
And then you know what he did next year? Won the whole damn thing again. Against the Boston Celtics, the team who had defeated him two years ago. Those same Celtics who had just unknowingly chased Lebron out of Cleveland for the first time.
He did it in 7 games on a night where he did not play well, but he made the plays when they counted. His will to win was greater than everybody on the floor and it shined the night that Kobe won his last NBA title.
There were no further questions. This was still Kobe’s league. And even with Lebron’s well-documented success after the experience of the 2010 season, Kobe will always have this.
Kobe Bryant: 5-1 in NBA Finals.
Lebron James: 4-6 in NBA Finals.
A PROPER FAREWELL
April 13th, 2016 was an incredible night in the NBA. In Northern California, The Golden State Warriors were playing for history. The Warriors were in the midst of a historic regular season and looking to win their 73rd game.
But all eyes were on Los Angeles and Staples Center regardless of the history happening in Oakland.
It was Kobe’s last game. It was a celebration of the career of an NBA legend. And just like we’ve always known about Kobe Bryant, he wasn’t going to go out without a show. In fact, he wasn’t going to go out without shooting the damn ball every. Single. Time.
Kobe’s statline of the night. 22-50 from the field. 60 points. 60. POINTS. And even during a hellacious year for the Lakers as a whole, it ended with the thing that Kobe Bryant dedicated his NBA career to. A win.
Thank you, Kobe. You continue to inspire people to be their best. You continue to be the example of excellence that we all should strive to be. Rest in power, Kobe and Gianna. Your impact on the world will never, ever be forgotten.
Jake Majka is a web contributor for Trainwreck Sports and the co-host of the Happy Hour Hoops podcast.