Legends never die: Kobe Bryant’s legacy living on after fatal helicopter accident
Bryant won five championship rings within his 20 year basketball career and quickly became one of the NBA’s greatest players. He was fatally killed in a helicopter accident on Jan. 26 in Calabasas with his daughter Gianna Bryant and seven other passengers. Photo Courtesy of Getty Images and Bleacher Report
By Kemi Omorogbe, Contributor
January 26, 2020.
That’s the day I got a phone call from my sister, saying Kobe Bryant had passed. Standing up from my desk, I instantly thought it was a huge joke. It couldn’t be real.
The whole world was just celebrating how LeBron James had just surpassed him on the all-time scoring list.
So as I sit here and write this, I’m still in disbelief that someone so great could be gone in a matter of seconds?
My whole world stopped.
Hour by hour more reports of the accident started raining in all directions. Minute-by-minute the world realized that this was one of the biggest losses we’ve collectively suffered in a long time.
Kobe Bryant and his 13 year old daughter Gianna Bryant at the East vs. West NBA All-star basketball game in Toronto, Feb. 14, 2016. Photo Courtesy of Elsa/Getty Images & Eonline
Kobe, you really changed the game of basketball for everyone. To watch you play during your legendary 20-year career was a privilege.
You once said, “the lesson I cherish the most, is how important it is to love what you do, if you love what you do and it’s making you happy all the hard work and perseverance will pay off.”
You had little boys and girls believe in themselves so much that they took the steps to chase their dreams. Some of them are now NBA players, office professionals, engineers, teachers, change makers, writers, entrepreneurs and more… you touched everyone.
You were more than just buzzer beaters, ball handles and wild shots. You executed the work ethic and leadership of a human that seemed to be unstoppable… unimaginable.
You shared with us that Mamba Mentality which motivated us to keep going after failure, after nobody wanted to believe in us. You were everyone’s father that always knew the right things to say.
You died instilling your knowledge and grace into your family, your children, Gianna.
She was a kid that blossomed into you and wanted to pass on your legacy. A future WNBA star that you could tell had your aspirations and lived life through Mamba Mentality. The father-daughter connection you had was apparent to all of us, and let us know what kind of man you really are.
You are a man of passion, you put it into everything you love. You loved basketball, you loved your supporters, your friends, your beautiful family.
We will never forget your last game. Forget the most-Kobe way of going out in style and the stat-line you put up, the moment you shared staring directly into your family is what got to all of us. We all witnessed the real Kobe Bean Bryant.
Whether people knew you personally, or were inspired by your game, heart, work or dedication, all we can say is thank you. You taught us that it isn’t about the length of life but the depth of life.
Mamba is really out. But his legacy will never die.
8-24 forever.
As we mourn the death of Kobe and Gianna Bryant, it’s important to remember that their lives were not the only one’s lost.
Rest in paradise to John Altobelli, Kerri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, and Ara Zobayan.
