Kobe’s Impact
Kobe Bryant was drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA draft. He was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kobe was 18-years old, straight out of high school, when he entered the NBA. From 2000–2002, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal led the Lakers to a three-peat. They were arguably the greatest duo of all-time. They are both all-time greats, Shaq being arguably the most dominant player ever, and Kobe being the most skilled player of all-time.
The next finals appearance for Kobe without Shaq came in 2008 against the Boston Celtics. The Celtics won that series 4–2. Following the loss, Kobe worked even harder during the off-season to get better. His workout plan was two hours of running, two hours basketball, and two hours weightlifting, six hours a day, six times a week for six months. In 2009 and 2010, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers, alongside Pau Gasol to a two-peat, and the Lakers totaled their championships to sixteen. Kobe delivered five of those championships.
In 2013, Kobe suffered a devastating Achilles injury. Kobe was playing 48-minutes per game during the last couple of games of the season to will the Lakers to the playoffs. On April 12th, 2013, the Lakers were vs. the Warriors, and Kobe attempted to drive around former Warriors forward Harrison Barnes, and he went down. He initially felt a pop and thought someone kicked him. Kobe was clutching his ankle, as he asked Barnes if he pushed him, Barnes said no. Kobe stood up, made two free-throws, and walked off of the basketball court into the locker room on his own power. Kobe was later diagnosed with a torn Achilles tendon. The Lakers won that game 118–116.
Kobe worked hard during rehab, and eight months later, he returned from that devastating injury in December of 2013. Kobe was the one player who played through any injury suffered, unless it was so bad, to a point where he could barely walk, let alone run. Kobe had a lot of injuries over the 20 years he played in the NBA, but he kept working hard and delivering wins for the Lakers. The most important thing for Kobe on the basketball court was to win games and championships.
During his legendary career, in the off-season, Kobe hosted a basketball camp in Santa Barbra. I was fortunate to be able to attend the Camp in 2011. It was the greatest experience of my lifetime. It was a five-day event. At Kobe Camp, we would do several different basketball drills, scrimmages, former NBA players such as Matt Barnes, Mark Jackson, and Brian Shaw were at the Camp. Kobe was at the Camp regularly, encouraging us to push ourselves and work harder to get better. The Camp took place from 9 a.m. — 9 p.m., and on the fifth day, all the campers lined up with Kobe gear to meet Kobe and get his autograph. I gave him my Kobe jersey to sign, and that was one of the most memorable moments of my life.
On April 13, 2016, Kobe played the final game of his illustrious career. I was glued to the game from the moment it started until the moment the mic dropped. Shaq challenged Kobe to get 50-points in his final game, and Kobe finished the game scoring 60-points. Kobe accepted that challenge and willed his way to 60-points. That’s who Kobe was. The impact Kobe had on me, and millions of people is unmatched.
Kobe Bryant ended his legendary NBA career as a five-time champion, two time NBA Finals MVP, twelve-time All-Defense, fifteen-time All-NBA, eighteen-time All-Star, fourth-most points in NBA History, two-time Olympic champion, two-time scoring champion, and 2007–2008 league MVP.
Off the court, Kobe was a family man. His life after basketball was dedicated to Vanessa, Gianna, Bianka, Natalia, and Capri. Several reporters had asked if he would ever consider returning to the NBA, and his answer was “not a chance” because what he needed to accomplish on the basketball court, he accomplished, but more importantly, he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Post-retirement, Kobe was coaching Gianna’s team. He authored and collaborated with others to write such books as The Wizenard Series, Geese Are Never Swans, Legacy and the Queen, and The Mamba Mentality. He wrote and narrated Dear Basketball, and Dear Basketball won an Oscar for the best animated short film. The film was based on a letter he wrote to the Players’ Tribune in November of 2015, announcing his retirement from basketball. He was an advocate for women’s sports. Kobe had many accomplishments on and off the basketball court. He was more than an athlete.
Kobe is the reason I started watching and playing sports. Every time I grabbed a basketball, I thought of him. I thought of his Mamba mentality. I watched Kobe highlights often, and I tried emulating his game, watching his footwork, his handles, his defensive stance, his shooting form, and his will to win. He instilled the love of the game in me.
I decided to make sports my career as a journalist. Each day I think how can I be better, and I ask myself, how would Kobe do it? He did everything in his life with laser focus, not only as the best athlete but as a father, husband, friend, and philanthropist.
Thank you for everything you’ve taught me. My role model, my idol, Rest in Peace, Kobe Bean Bryant.
