Mamba Forever
Remembering Kobe Bryant one year after his tragic death
*This is a repost of mine from February 19th, 2020*
April 13th, 2016. With 4.1 seconds left on the clock, the world watched in awe as a legend left the court one final time. Kobe Bryant had been substituted for the last time in his career. Chants of “MVP” and “Kobe” occupied the arena. Stars ranging from Shaq to Jack Nicholson to Snoop Dogg had filled the Staples Center on that April night for an opportunity to see greatness one last time. They did not leave dissatisfied. Bryant had just capped off a record-setting performance in his final game. Kobe accumulated 60 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in 42 minutes. After the game, Bryant delivered a speech to the Staples crowd; a speech which concluded with two words: “Mamba out”.
January 26th, 2020. The world was again left in awe because of Kobe Bryant. This time however, devastation was at the forefront. On Sunday morning, news broke of a helicopter crash which had killed the Lakers legend, his daughter Gianna, and 7 others.
The news has hit me harder than anything in recent memory. Since Sunday, I have cried multiple times. I had never cried about someone’s death who I never knew. That all changed when it came to Kobe. This was different. I wasn’t a Lakers fan, I wasn’t even the biggest Kobe fan, but I am a fan of the NBA; and the story of the NBA cannot be told without Kobe Bryant. The tragic news still doesn’t feel real. Every time I see the headline “Kobe Bryant dead at 41” or “Kobe Bryant 1978–2020” it just doesn’t feel real. He was superhuman on the court. He was the mamba. He played with a ferocity and determination which the world hadn’t seen since Michael Jordan. In my head he just can’t be gone. But with every video I see of celebrities and athletes discussing their favorite Kobe memory, another tear drops down my face, and the terrible news becomes more of a realization. Kobe Bryant wasn’t coming back.
Kobe’s impact is continuously being shown after his death. The amount of people whose lives he touched is apparent through the multitude of tweets and stories being shared. Celebrities like Jimmy Fallon and Ice Cube, athletes like Lebron James and Dwyane Wade, and even former president Barack Obama have all expressed what Kobe had meant to them. All the tributes in the NBA, including 8 and 24 second violations to start games, show Kobe’s impact. Everyone has a Kobe memory. Whether it’s the 60 points in his final game, the 81 points against the Raptors, or the image of him holding one of the five Larry O’Brien trophies which he helped capture, Bryant was well equipped in making memories.
I believe this is why the news has affected me, and so many others enormously. Bryant is easily one of the greatest basketball players of all time (to some the greatest). He was the 2008 MVP, an 18-time all-star, a 15-time all-NBA selection, a 12-time all-defensive team selection, and is the fourth leading scorer in NBA history. He was a global icon. Even the most casual NBA fans knew who Kobe was.
While most people have memories of Bryant on the court, Kobe was also excelling in his life post-basketball. He had won an Oscar for a short-film. He had opened the Mamba Sports Academy. But most of all, he was being a father, which many had said brought Bryant the most joy. He was a proud dad, and the coach of his daughter Gianna’s basketball team. This is why the news is so heartbreaking. Bryant loved his family, especially his daughter Gigi. She was determined to play basketball at UConn, and many said she had the same work ethic as her father. She had the same moves on the court as Kobe, but their relationship was much more than on the basketball court. Kobe loved Gianna and it showed whenever they were together, whether that be at practice, or taking in an NBA game courtside. But now they’re both gone.
I am writing this to try and help myself cope. To try and help myself limit the tears. The world will never be the same without Kobe. But that’s okay. All of the memories and stories about Bryant can help uplift our spirits. I watched Monday night as ESPN re-aired Bryant’s final game, and during the game I didn’t cry. I had shifted back to being a fan of the NBA, and a fan of Kobe. I shifted back to being in awe of his pure skill and will. I shifted back to a positive emotion when thinking about Kobe instead of sadness. With time, hopefully this becomes the norm. Hopefully the memories will outweigh the sorrow.
So while Kobe finished his playing career with two final words, “Mamba out”, I prefer to finish this piece with one slight change. Mamba forever.
We will always remember the joy he brought this world, and we will always remember the Mamba forever.
