How many times have you crumpled up a piece of paper and launched it into the recycling bin whilst howling,“Kobe!”? How many times have you witnessed a player record over 80 points in a game? How many times has an NBA player won an Academy Award? There are endless questions I could allude to regarding the impact of Kobe Bryant on basketball, the sports world, and our overall pop culture. 

NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe put it best when he stated, “Black Mambas are deadly not only because of their venom, but they’ll strike without provocation. Bryant had no friends on the court, but off the court, he had a heart of gold.”  Bryant’s intensity, ambition, graciousness, and heart will leave a mark on the world forever. 

Evidently Bryant’s most illustrious achievements came on the court. After going straight to the NBA right out of high school, he went on to become the league’s MVP in 2008, the NBA Finals MVP in 2009 and 2010, an 11-time All-NBA First Team selection, a 5-time NBA Championship winner, and so much more. Bryant was also the first player that sports analysts were able to fervently compare to the great Michael Jordan.

Bryant’s drive to be the best is unmatched. He didn’t just want to be a professional basketball player, he wanted to be the next Michael Jordan. He didn’t just want to be a storyteller, he wanted to win an Oscar. He didn’t just want to coach his daughter, he wanted to coach her to greatness. The fact that we can only imagine what this would’ve looked like is excruciating at best. 

There are no words to describe how much I despise writing this article; summarizing achievements of a man who had a full life ahead of him, a life surrounded by the very family who motivated him the most. Furthermore, I’m not able to encapsulate all the accomplishments that his daughter Gigi would’ve completed—accomplishments which would have further extended the Bryant legacy. It really hurts. Just when you think you understand death, something like this is introduced which leaves your stomach in knots and reduces the taste of your food to a minimal. 

Mamba out, but not forgotten.