Sunday, January 26, a day that was supposed to be like any other Sunday, minus the week off from football as the NFL prepares for Super Bowl Sunday just one week away. With no Sunday football to wake up to for the first time in 20 weeks, there was simply no alarm clock needed as I managed to get some rest and sleep in. Unbeknownst to the shocking news that I would wake up to just moments later, the text messages began pouring in from family members and friends alike, followed by an alert from my ESPN app: "12:04pm - NBA legend Kobe Bryant among five people killed in helicopter crash in Calabasas, California."
At first glance upon opening the texts and reading the alert while still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I thought, "that can't be right." Less than 24 hours earlier while taking on the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers Forward LeBron James passed Kobe for third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list, which James honored Kobe in his hometown of Philadelphia with a pair of customized sneakers that included a handwritten message that read, "Mamba 4 Life". In the visiting team's locker room, LeBron would give a post-game interview and answered a number of Kobe-related questions after being asked what it meant to move up the list of the game's all-time scorers while passing an NBA great and Laker legend like Kobe Bryant. James would share a number of stories, including the first time he met Kobe while attending a basketball camp as a teenager where he was gifted a pair of sneakers from the Mamba himself. And despite them being a full shoe size smaller, LeBron wore them anyway. Kobe took to Twitter to congratulate LeBron on his achievement with a short message that read, "Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother #33644." Little did we know it would be the last interaction between the two and the last time we'd hear from Kobe.
For me, a kid born in the year 1990 that grew up a Lakers fan and was fortunate enough to watch Kobe straight out of High School from the beginning of his career to the end, the man was not only an icon, but a global ambassador for the game of basketball. Serving as the transitional piece alongside his former teammate and good friend Shaquille O'Neal that helped bridge the gap following the Michael Jordan era, Kobe Bryant who entered the league at the tender age of 18, was the quintessential rock star from a basketball sense. Unlike Jordan who I only remember during his second stint with the Bulls and towards the twilight of his career, Kobe was the Jordan of my childhood and my hero. From having his own video game that I would play as a child for hours on end to his own sneakers and fashion line that I would beg my parents to buy me, Kobe Bryant was larger than life and is perhaps even more recognizable overseas than he is here in the States. Possessing a work ethic unlike any other, Kobe Bryant was the ultimate competitor, even greater than that of Jordan. And like Jordan who Kobe drew so many comparisons to and admits he molded his game around, Kobe was a player that brought the best out of everyone he faced on a basketball court. Whether you were a fan of his or you hated his guts for the sole reason that he likely ripped the heart out of your team on multiple occasions on the scoreboard and in the box score, chances are he had you glued to the TV in one way or another.
Having been a sports fan for my entire life, I can truly say that I've never followed someone who was so obsessed with something the way Kobe was with basketball. But as much as Kobe needed basketball, basketball needed Kobe just as much if not more. Having inspired an entire generation of athletes, not one player in the NBA today would admit that Kobe didn't inspire them or their game in some way, shape, or form. Whether it was a move they saw Kobe make in a game, or the way he handled himself on the court with a focus and a hunger for success unlike any before him which coined such phrases as "Mamba Mentality" and "Kobe System," chances are Kobe made an impact on each and every basketball fan and player out there over the last two decades. Kobe is a household name that is as synonymous with the game of basketball as well as any we've ever seen, so much so that his jersey numbers: 8 and 24, both of which retired by the Lakers, line up with two of basketball's most basic rules in the 8 Second Violation and the 24 Second Shot-Clock Violation. This allowed for the many NBA teams that were in action on Sunday to pay tribute to Bryant just hours after the tragic news broke as teams began purposely committing these violations, simply as a salute and a thank you to one of their very own. Dallas Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban, whom Kobe never played for in his entire career, had his own way of honoring Bryant and released a statement Sunday evening praising Kobe's legacy and saying that the number 24 will never be worn again by a member of the Mavs.
Sadly, the 41-year old Kobe who was beloved by fans and meant so much to the Los Angeles community, was not alone on that helicopter that came crashing down and killed more passengers than initially reported. Among the eight others that were on board and killed in the accident was Bryant's 13-year old daughter, Gianna. A prodigy under her dad's tutelage, Gigi was expected to be the next big thing in women's basketball. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited to see when her time on the hardwood came calling, almost as an extension of Kobe who basketball fans, myself included, dearly miss seeing on a basketball court. Sadly, she was taken from us before her basketball legacy could even begin and before she was able to continue that of the family's. Among the game's all-time greatest players, Kobe in the public eye was even greater at being a father. I could sit here and talk about the many accolades and accomplishments that Kobe achieved on the court, but that would likely take all night and considering I have to be up for work in a few hours, that's probably not a great idea.
This photo was taken exactly three years ago to the day, the last Laker game I had attended prior to this season and of course donning the jersey of my all-time favorite basketball player and one of my favorite athletes ever. When you follow ones career and become as big a fan of someone like I was with Kobe, you begin to feel as if you knew that person on a personal level. And though that's not the case as I was merely a fan, I still feel like I've lost a close friend.
Rest in Peace.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
Just six games into his return from a torn Achilles tendon in his left foot suffered back in April, Kobe Bryant will once again be watching games from the sideline rather than playing in them. Basketball fans and Laker fans alike were given just a small sample size of the Kobe Bryant post-Achilles injury as his highly anticipated return which was eight months in the making, was once again put on hold due to the injury bug. On the road facing the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, Bryant went down on the count after appearing to have tweaked something in the third quarter. Though he lied there clutching his knee for a good minute or so, there didn't appear to be any major damage as Kobe was able to walk off the court under his own power and continued to play the remainder of the game as the Lakers eventually went on to win by a final of 96-92. But after experiencing soreness the following day, an MRI on Thursday revealed Kobe had in fact fractured the lateral tibia plateau in his left knee.
The injury comes just three weeks after the Lakers signed their superstar player and all-time franchise scoring-leader to a two-year, $48.5 Million extension. A deal that might end up hurting the team more than it helps. In the limited time Kobe played on the court before once again having to trade his Lakers uniform for a pair of crutches, he managed to score at least 20-points in three of the six games he starred in and logged a 13-assist performance in another. Though Kobe's presence will be missed, his injury is just the latest name added to the laundry list of players the Lakers have seen miss time this season. At the moment, coach Mike D'Antoni will have to make due with a depleted lineup as Bryant joins Steve Blake, Steve Nash and Jordan Farmar on the sideline. Upon his return, Kobe was being looked at as the saving grace, being able to move from shooting-guard to point-guard but his absence forced general manager Mitch Kupchak to seek an alternative as the team signed free-agent Kendall Marshall. The former first round pick out of North Carolina in last year's NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, Marshall was most recently waived by the Washington Wizards and has yet to produce anywhere near the numbers he put up while with the Tar Heels.
In the handful of minutes we got to see Bryant play this season, he showed flashes of his old self as he got his feet back more and more after each game. But in no way did we see the explosiveness as to be expected given the repercussions of his Achilles injury. One department Kobe's absence will benefit the team in, however, is in the Draft lottery. With the Lakers franchise in desperate need of rebuilding from the ground up, the 6 to 8 weeks Kobe is out for should help the team further solidify themselves in the lottery sweepstakes.
I'm one of the biggest Kobe supporters you'll meet but what he did on November 25 by signing his two-year contract-extension for $48.5 Million set me back a bit. In no way am I hating on the man for taking money, but I am a bit surprised given how much Bryant says he wants that sixth ring to add to his legacy. Taking up $24 Million a year in payroll at the age of 35 does little to help his team's case in pursuit of NBA Championship no. 17. Compare Kobe's deal to that of the aging Tim Duncan who in 2012 went from making $23 Million the year before to $9.7 Million a year, a deal which helped the franchise sign pieces to surround Duncan with and helped them get to the NBA Finals this past June. It appears Kobe's latest contract is more of a 'thank you' from Lakers owner Jim Buss for what he's done in the past rather than what Kobe can accomplish in the next two seasons. Maybe it was just wishful thinking when I thought Kobe would take a page out of Tom Brady's book by taking a pay-cut to help his team.
As for any doubt we had in the past on whether or not Kobe's last seasons would be in the purple and gold, the contract-extension means Kobe will be a Laker for life. After it's all said and done, Kobe will have been with the team for 20 years, one year longer than John Stockton was with the Utah Jazz, the longest tenured player in NBA history with one franchise. The fact of the matter is Kobe's hunger for greatness is unparalleled and nothing will prevent him from playing these final two plus seasons unless he's got to be carried away from the game for good. With all that said, get well, Mamba, and take your time recovering.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
