Kobe Bryant: A Great Loss to Not Only the World of Sports
Image courtesy of Sports Illustrated
By JEHAN BOER ‘21
This past week, the National Basketball Association lost one of its best and most historic players, Kobe Bryant. On January 26, 2020, Bryant, who was 41 years old, along with his daughter Gigi, 13 years old, and seven other passengers, lost their lives in a fatal helicopter crash in Calabasas, CA. Kobe’s death was sad news for everyone in the NBA, the league that Kobe played in for 20 years. The league's star players, from the likes of LeBron James and Trae Young, paid tribute to Kobe’s legacy. But many more than just the people in the world of basketball mourned the death of Kobe Bryant. Kobe’s legacy stretched far beyond the realm of basketball, and even further beyond the realm of sports. Kobe Bryant was an athlete who transcended sports, and his death is a loss for the entire world.
The name Kobe Bryant alone has travelled miles. Most well known for his success in the game of basketball, Kobe Bryant can be described as an NBA icon. Kobe played his entire 20 season career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning 5 championships with them. His career was decked out with accolades such as youngest All-Star, two-time season leading scorer in points, records for amount of All-NBA teams, and four all-star MVPs, according to the Lakers Universe. Kobe was a baller, and his baller reputation voyaged fast around the world. Because of his success in basketball, people started yelling “Kobe” whenever they made a basketball-like shot, whether it was throwing a basketball into a hoop or tossing a crumpled up paper into a trash can. This trend of yelling “Kobe” spread throughout America and can now probably be considered a part of American culture.
Having been raised in Nigeria, I, as well as most of my childhood classmates, had no idea who Kobe Bryant was, but every time we made a shot we still yelled “Kobe.” Kobe’s reputation was and still is global.
Unknown to many, Kobe grew up as a third culture kid, meaning he was an American who grew up abroad. Kobe’s dad was also a professional basketball player who played for eight years in the US and eight years in Italy. Kobe spent his early life between Italy and the United States; throughout his entire childhood, he was influenced by a culture foregin to his own family. He learned the game of basketball in Italy, a country not well known for its ballers, and this foriegn influence made his individual style of play unique. Many third culture kids, like myself, could relate to Kobe and continue to look at his story for inspiration.
On the court, Kobe was known as the “Black Mamba,” a nickname inspired from Quentin Tarrintino’s Kill Bill. The Black Mamba was a dangerous assassin known for her agility, an attribute that Kobe “wanted to be associated with his game,” according to the Lakers Nation. Kobe’s nickname of “Black Mamba” followed his playstyle and attitude; Kobe was agile, aggressive, determined and, above all, extremely competitive. From this driven attitude and unique playstyle came the now-popular term: “Mamba Mentality”—a mindset for life. Kobe described Mamba Mentality with five key emotions: “honesty, detachment, optimism, passion and fearlessness,” all key attributes in a mindset “for constant self-improvement in the pursuit of your highest potential in life,” according to the innovation consultancy company R/GA. Kobe strove for the Mamba Mentality to surpass the realm of sports. The desire of self improvement applies to everything and everyone. Kobe illustrated this Mamba Mentality in the way he spoke, the way he played, and the numbers he put down. His Mamba Mentality still exists today, and seeps into American culture. Even in the small Milton community, before any large and daunting event like a sports game or a huge test, you can find students watching some of Kobe’s motivating speeches to rile them up. Kobe’s dedicated mindset and the expression of this mindset is simply inspiring. Kobe Bryant had something to offer not only to those watching him play basketball, but to everyone else as well.
Kobe’s greatness in basketball, his relatable story, and his Mamba Mentality are just some of the many reasons why Kobe Bryant was so great and why his death is such a big loss. It is fair to say that Kobe helped set in place a mentality for the next generation of ballers, whether on the court, on the field, or in school. His death will not end his impact; his legacy will carry his name on for many generations and continue to inspire people around the world. Never forget Kobe’s Mamba Mentality, and remember to yell “Kobe” next time you shoot a crumpled piece of paper into the trash.