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January 26, 2020 was a normal day for most sports fans when it first began. But by the time the late afternoon rolled around, it transformed into one of the most tragic ones ever.
There was a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California, which claimed the life of nine individuals. John, Alyssa, and Keri Altobelli. Sarah and Payton Chester. Christina Mauser. Pilot Ara Zobayan. And Kobe Bryant, and his daughter Gianna.
A day that many remember very well, it seemed like something that didn’t really happen. For the primary reason that Kobe had been in attendance to watch LeBron James break his scoring record in Philadelphia the very night before. And suddenly the next day, poof. A tragic helicopter crash that he was part of that claimed nine lives.
Let’s reminisce a little about the Black Mamba, who was one of the most polarizing figures in the history of the game. Few could score like Kobe, and few ever will.
Kobe Bryant, All-Time Legend
Someone could watch highlights of Kobe Bryant from any reason dating from the rookie year in 1996, until his final game in 2016. The same type of work ethic would be there. The desire to be great was with him constantly, it seemed. To be the best one in the room, on the court, to work the hardest.
After dropping 60 points following a crazy 13 points in three-minutes stretch in his final game, he dropped the mic one last time, saying “Mamba Out”.
Bryant’s accolade page on Basketball Reference is as impressive as any player’s has ever been. 18X All-Star. 15X All-NBA. 12X All-Defense. MVP. 5X champion. 2X Finals MVP. He did quite literally do it all, while also having the second-highest scoring performance in league history at 81 points back in 2006 against the Raptors.
His daughter, Gianna Bryant, was also shaping up to be an incredible basketball player. Her team, which was coached by her father, won a game by 88 points (scoreboard below) against a team who had actually defeated them the year prior.
She also had the Mamba Mentality when going out there, and it appeared she would have had herself a legitimate pro career.
Tragically of course, that will never happen. The UConn Huskies, a team she hoped to eventually play for, delivered a beautiful tribute at their first home game a few days later.
When you think about legends of the game, and larger than life figures, Kobe is absolutely near the top of that list. The game was better when he was around it.
Before headed into the final section, RIP once again to everybody involved in the tragic elicopter crash. Tragic doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Kobe Bryant’s Post-Retirement Impact
In the four years he had been out of the NBA as a retired player, Kobe Bryant had been doing a lot for the game. He was bringing significant attention to the WNBA and women’s sports. He was one of the first major advocates for making sure they got the same attention.
They announced a posthumous award, named after Kobe and Gianna Bryant for WNBA advocacy.
Additionally, he started challenging players online. He was giving them all different goals, and things to accomplish. It became such a big thing, that other guys started going to him, and it became a beautiful thing to see players have this drive to want to improve like that. In large part because of what Bryant’s expectations were.
Giannis Antetokounmpo tweeted at Kobe that he was still waiting for his challenge. “MVP” was the three-letter response. Signed. Sealed. Delivered.
After winning the MVP, Bryant challenged to him win a title. Mission accomplished. Unfortunately, Bryant wasn’t around to see the run by the Bucks, but certainly inspired Giannis.
Farewell, Kobe Bryant
Bryant was so heavily involved in the game at the time he passed away. He had even won an Emmy for Dear Basketball, a short basketball documentary he helped produce.
The game has missed Kobe. His mentality, what he brought to the floor. How he was working with stars in both the NBA and WNBA to improve the game and get more eye balls.
RIP Black Mamba. A legend, always. Forgotten, never. Forever one of the best to lace them up.
Zach Weiss Zach Weiss is a sports reporter covering the NBA for Heavy. He also hosts a podcast about the Cleveland Cavaliers, “Across the Cavs,” and serves as a sports broadcaster for various institutions in the Greater NYC Area. He wrote for Knup Sports for six years. More about Zach Weiss
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