By Sammy Miller
Copy Editor
Forty-one years of age, 20 years as a Laker, 17 years as a father, five-time champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, the one, the only, Black Mamba.
On Aug. 23, 1978, the world gained a superstar named Kobe Bryant. However, 41 years of greatness passed away on Jan. 26, 2020, and the world lost not only one of the best basketball players to grace the hardwood, but an inspiration to the world. Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, alongside his 13 year-old-daughter Gianna Bryant and seven others aboard including John Altobelli, Kerri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan. Here is an in depth look at Kobe’s legacy with interviews from prominent sources from the basketball world.
“I tell a lot of people who ask me over the years what is it about Kobe, and I always say, to be iconic and a legend, sure you need the whole package…The looks, the swag, the talent, the name, the star quality but you gotta deliver, and he did that and more,” studio anchor and host for Spectrum SportsNet Lakers Chris McGee said.
As the son of former NBA player Joe Bryant, Bryant had basketball in his DNA. He attended Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania and went straight to the 1996 NBA draft. He was drafted to the Charlotte Hornets, who immediately traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers. This was the start of his 20-year reign in the purple and gold. He was part of the three-peat, winning the NBA Championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002, and was voted NBA MVP in 2008. He then led the Lakers to a 2009 and 2010 NBA Championship, scoring the title of NBA Finals MVP in both series. In 2016, he made the decision to retire and finished his NBA career, scoring 60 points in his final game, and finished as the fourth all-time NBA leading scorer with 33,643 points over 20 years.
“When Michael Jordan passed the torch over to him, Kobe became the face of the NBA,” three-time Lakers NBA Champion and Hall of Famer James Worthy said. “I don’t think anyone has ever done it like Kobe because of his intensity, discipline, and his approach to the game and the way he played it.”
When people think of Bryant, they might envision a ruthless player who only cares about defeating his opponents. While this is true, he did not stop there. He wanted to spend as much time as possible with his girls, Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri, to make up for the lost time, according to former NBA coach and ESPN analyst Dave Miller.
“Kobe inspired millions of kids to fall in love with basketball, but after retirement, he had a global impact on father-daughter relationships as well,” Miller said. “We spoke numerous times over the years in regards to youth basketball and the importance of giving the same opportunity to young girls that boys receive. He was coaching Gigi at the Mamba Academy any chance that he had, and the moments where Kobe was sharing his vast knowledge with her court side at games was just truly so special.”
Mamba mentality is Kobe. Kobe is the mamba mentality. Both go hand-in-hand. Mamba mentality is the ability to constantly try to be the best version of yourself. He lived by this every day, and his resume shows it. Now yes, an 81-point game is remarkable, but shooting free throws after tearing your achilles is something else. He had an ongoing quest for knowledge of the game and always wanted to pass along the information that he learned to his teammates because, in the end, he was truly about growing the game, McGee said.
“Kobe refused to be second in anything, which was indicative of his life,” Worthy said. “He had a vision to go along with his work ethic, so when you have those two together, it usually sums up to something really good, and you can see that from his body of work.”
An NBA player rarely stays with one organization for his entire career, but Bryant did just that. For 20 years, he proudly wore the purple and gold and made Staples Center his home. He was a part of what made Los Angeles what it is today. Not only that, but Bryant was known worldwide and worked to help families and athletes across the world through his Mamba Sports Foundation and the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation.
“He was ours. He came to us at 17,” McGee said. “He was confident and wanted to be the greatest ever and every time he wore the purple and gold for 20 years we rode with him, triumphs and failures, he was ours. He was the four air balls in Utah and the 81 vs Toronto, the game winners, the five titles, the two free throws with a torn Achilles to get the Lakers to the playoffs. He was bigger than basketball and more than an athlete as everyone has been saying.”
For this generation, aspiring basketball players and sports lovers alike have grown up watching Bryant on television screens and have learned to yell “Kobe” when shooting a crumpled paper ball into a trashcan. His moments on and off the court will never be forgotten. According to senior Colin Ramey, his favorite memory of Bryant was watching him hit the dagger against the Phoenix Suns in 2006 during Game 4 of the playoff series.
“Kobe has had a strong impact on me as I’ve grown up,” Ramey said. “I idolize him on and off the court for being a great husband and father and for how driven, resilient, and never satisfied he was in all aspects of life. He was and still is the G.O.A.T.”
One way that Costa honored Bryant was a moment of silence before the girls and boys basketball game on Jan. 28.
“The night that we honored Kobe, I was sick, but I strived to bring the Mamba Mentality to my game that night,” senior girls basketball player Ella Erich said. “I also wanted to honor him by playing well in his number, but also to play well in #24 for my senior night and for all of the people who were grieving because #24 was a reminder of Kobe to them.”
Since Bryant’s passing, athletes and organizations have organized tributes to honor Bryant, Gigi and the seven others who perished from the accident. Mira Costa took the opportunity to honor those who died by wearing purple and gold on Feb. 4 to honor his number 24. Many NBA teams honored the lost lives with a 24-second violation and an 8-second violation at the start of the NBA games following the crash in honor of both of Bryant’s jersey numbers. The deaths of these nine people were shocking but have reminded the Costa community and the world how precious life is and has encouraged many to embrace the Mamba Mentality and honor his legacy, according to Erich.
“Words cannot describe what it meant to honor Kobe Bryant,” Indiana Pacers NBA basketball player TJ McConnell said. “He was such an amazing role model for every player but an even better person and dad. He is loved by so many and that speaks volumes about the way he played the game and lived his life.”
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