8/24: Greatness Personified!

“He’s so tired he could barely walk his feet off. Look at him, but he continues to will himself. He’s ability
to will himself and to the opposition is AMAZING.”- Lakers Commentator

With 4.1 seconds left in the regulation, a visibly fatigued athlete breathing through his mouth pounds his
chest, raises his hand to acknowledge the legion of fans chanting his name, and who saw greatness with
their very eyes since he donned the purple and gold jersey, and with all sorts of celebration directed to
him, Kobe makes his way to the bench with the W for his team plus a legendary 60-point farewell
performance --- a scene that marked the end of an illustrious 20-year career on the hardwood of
arguably the greatest scorer and Laker of all time.

The Tip-in

Kobe Bean Bryant was a young, unapologetically confident hooper from Lower Merion High School who
skipped college to join what many consider today as the most talent-stacked draft class (1996) that
bannered the likes of Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Ray Allen, Ben Wallace, Peja Stojakovic, among others.
He was drafted as the 13th over-all pick by the then Charlotte Hornets but was immediately traded to the
Los Angeles Lakers, a move the Hornets will regret forever and which, on the other hand, paid dividends
to the Lakers’ franchise.

Cocky as he was, Bryant, as a rookie, already showed signs of tenacity (later to be recognized as the
“Mamba Mentality”) and claimed he was not intimated by anybody, including Michael Jordan
(considered as the greatest athlete to ever set foot in the NBA) who was already at the tail-end of his
career.

Kobe had all the right to be confident in himself, not because it was his nature to be brash, but he and
the people of Philadelphia knew what he’s made of. Kobe was just the type of guy who embodied the
“walk-the-talk” principle. Even before he could officially step foot on the NBA, Kobe was already a high
school phenom who led his school capture its first title in 53 years, racking up a monster statline of 30.8
points, 12.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.8 blocks to become the recipient of the Naismith High
School Player of the Year award.

Time-out

Kobe’s offensive numbers in his rookie year weren’t as eye-popping as they would eventually become as
he progressed in the league, largely because of limited minutes on the floor. Despite averaging only 7.6
ppg that season, Kobe’s career looked promising as he won the Dunk contest and was a member of all-
rookie second team.

Start of the 2nd Quarter

The 6’6’ shooting guard’s career started to thrive in his sophomore year. Playing more minutes, Bryant’s
point production doubled at 15.4 and even improved to 19.9 the following season. During those years,
Kobe’s career was preparing for a massive launch. Once Shaquille ‘Diesel’ O’Neal signed with the Lakers,
he and Kobe Bryant would form one of, if not the most, formidable duos the NBA has ever seen. This
dominance had reached even an entirely different level when the Zen Master, Phil Jackson, took over
the coaching job and instituted his patented triangle offense around two of the most dominant players
in the league. And as NBA history book has it, the Jackson-Bryant-O’neal trio was a thing to watch as
they took the league by storm winning three straight championships from 2000-2002 against the Indiana
Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, and New Jersey Nets. It was a dynasty for the ages. They were simply
unstoppable. Their force was too much until…

Time-out

In his second season, Kobe became the youngest player to start in a regular season game and in an All-
Star game at the age of 18. At 21, he met a 17-year Vanessa whom he shared the rest of his life with. At
age 23, the Lower Merion standout already had three rings and had won his first All-Star MVP plum.

Time-out

In a Bleacher report by Matt Smith in 2009, Smith wrote to debunk the myth that Kobe got carried by
Shaq in their 3 title runs. He also wondered why no one questions the validity of the rings won by other
stars that played with stars, but with Kobe, he is judged on a completely different and unfair level. In his
words, he averred, “You may not like Kobe and some hate to give him any credit but the numbers don’t
care about opinions or petty hate, the numbers don’t lie.” Clearly, Smith claims, “Kobe and Shaq needed
each other.” The following playoff numbers don’t lie: 2000: Shaq (30.7ppg/15.4rpg/3.1apg) Kobe
(21.1ppg/4.5rpg/4.4apg); 2001: Shaq (30.4ppg/15.4rpg/3.2apg) Kobe (29.4ppg/7.3rpg/6.1apg); 2002:
(28.5ppg/12.6rpg/2.8apg) Kobe (26.6ppg/5.8rpg/4.6apg)

Start of the 2nd Half

After a historic 3-peat, things have gotten rocky for the Lakers, particularly for Bryant. While the “Black
Mamba” was having one of his best offensive seasons averaging 30 points per game in 2003, he was
facing a sexual assault lawsuit, and his relationship with Shaq turned very sour. These events have
proven really trying for the 15-time All-NBA member as he became one of the hated guys in the NBA. To
make matters worse, he would swallow all the blame for why the storied franchise was
underperforming during those times. The beef between him and Shaq got out of proportions when the
latter got shipped to the Miami Heat. Bryant would then be chastised for not playing team-basketball,
and was told he will never win a chip sans Shaq by those who were rooting for the big guy and those
who have viewed Kobe as a ball-hog.

In the 2005-2006 season, after all the dramas and his team’s failures, Bryant took the “Mamba
Mentality” to a whole new height and proved his doubters wrong. Kobe’s offensive arsenal was on full
display during that season which was highlighted by his 62 markers through three quarters against the
Dallas Mavericks in December 20, 2005, and an 81- point explosion against the Toronto Raptors a month
later.

Time-out
The 62-point outburst against the Mavericks was one of “The Vino’s” defining moments in the NBA. He
scored all of those while playing only three quarters. What’s rather remarkable is that Kobe himself
outscored the entire Dallas squad that had only 61 points at the end of third. Meanwhile, Kobe’s
teammates thought he was crazy for not playing in the fourth quarter where he could have possibly
scored 80 points. Kobe just said he’d do it when the time is right. And a month later, The Mamba
torched the Raptors with an 81-point eruption --- the 2nd highest scoring game in NBA History behind
Wilt Chamberlain’s 100.

Time-out

In 2003, Kobe was accused of sexual assault by a 19-year old front-desk clerk, which Kobe denied. It took
until 2005 for the legend’s legal horror to get resolved. Meanhwile, in 2006, Kobe ended beef with Shaq.

Start of the 4th Quarter

Kobe’s ascension to greatness became inevitable. He brought his clutch gene to the global stage when
he led Team USA in capturing an Olympic gold (his first) at the Beijing Summer Olympics in 2008. In that
same year, talented big man Pau Gasol joined the Lakers. It was also during that season that Bryant won
his first and only Season MVP award (btw, many think he could have won at least 4! Check his stats
against winners in 2002-2003, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007). Although the Lakers would lose to
the Boston Celtics in their Finals showdown in 2008, the 12-time All-Defensive member made it a
personal vendetta to avenge his team against their bitter rivals headlined by Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce,
Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo. Kobe, however, had to wait until 2010, as the Celtics failed to advance in
the 2009 NBA Finals. Instead, Kobe and his squad faced Prime Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic.
The Lakers proved too dominant for the Magic with Bryant being his usual offensive-juggernaut self. He
went on to average 33.4ppg/5.6rpg/7.4apg en route to his first Finals MVP award and fourth NBA title.
The accolades kept piling up for the Future Hall of Famer. In the 2009-2010 season, he became the all-
time leading scorer of the Lakers moving past Jerry West. That season also saw a rivalry for the ages ---
the Lakers-Celtics Finals rematch. It wasn’t a walk-in-the-park for Bryant but it was his ultimate shot at
returning the favour against the Celtics that revelled in seeing him cry in 2008. In fact, the league
champions were decided in the last minute of Game 7! And for the 2nd straight time, Bryant was
deservingly the recipient of the FMVP plum after battling it out against a team loaded with stars. His
series averages stood at 28.6ppg/8.0rpg/3.9apg.

Time-out

Kobe had a night to remember on February 2, 2009. Doing what he does best, Kobe went berserk at the
Mecca of Basketball (Madison Square Garden), setting an MSG record for most points scored by any
player in that arena. He shot 19-31 on his way to a 61-point output. Later, James Harden of the Houston
Rockets would tie this record.

Over-time
Accomplished as he was at age 31, Kobe had no plans of slowing down. He suited up for his 15th season
with a 3-year contract extension, powered by the same drive and competitive spirit he had since day
one. Although 2010’s title would be his last, his love for the game was unparalleled. He would once
again seize an Olympic Gold medal, this time, in London. For the next couple of seasons, Kobe and the
Lakers would still reach the play-offs but their efforts would come short. In 2013, hoping to keep the
Lakers’ playoff hopes alive, Kobe once again rode on his mamba mentality. He was schooling Klay
Thompson all game long when his hopes for the team waned in a snap. Kobe raptured his Achilles, and
this kept him out of the game he dearly loved for quite some time. Injuries weren’t foreign to Kobe as he
has dealt with plenty of them at different points of his career including wrist, ankle, knee, index finger,
back, and rotator cuff injury. After tearing his Achilles, he was asked by reporters whether he would
consider calling it quits, but typical Black Mamba gave a what-are-you-talking-about stare, and in one of
his interviews he said he enjoys pain for it is yet another challenge. Sportscaster Ahmad Rashad also
asked whether Kobe would retire once he loses one of his limbs, and Kobe said “That’s a pretty good
indication.” Kobe would eventually announce his retirement in 2015 via a poem titled “Dear Basketball”
he himself wrote.

The 2015-2016 season, Kobe’s 20th NBA season and last dance on the hard court, exemplified just how
much Kobe impacted the game. The 5-time NBA champion was honoured and celebrated in every arena.
The guy whom fans chanted against and opponents feared received nothing but love and appreciation in
his final season. Although his numbers were (understandably) not as good as they were in his prime, the
18-time all-starter made sure to walk off the game with the unthinkable. If Jordan, Kareem and Wilt
(three of NBA’s all-time greats) had 15, 7, and 23 points respectively in their farewell game, Kobe was on
a different zone. The 2-time Finals MVP and the 4th leading-scorer of all-time gave everything left on his
tank. Shaq challenged him to get 50, but Kobe being Kobe, scored 60 huge points --- a historic ending to
a stellar 20-year basketball career.

Time-out

*On December 14, 2014, Jellybean surpassed Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list.

*Kobe won an Oscar for Best Animated short film “Dear Basketball” in 2018 which was based on the
farewell poem he wrote in 2015

*Kobe’s basketball career started with a free-throw and ended with a free-throw.

*Although Kobe did not go to college, he was considered one of the smartest players of the NBA. He was
a plurilingual. He spoke fluent Italian, English and Spanish. Reportedly, he learned Chinese, French, a bit
of Bosnian and Slovenian and use these to get to the head of his opponents!

*Kobe was a student of the game. He also studied the referee’s handbook so he could take advantage of
calls made during games.

*Kobe is best known for his work ethics. He is considered as the hardest worker in the NBA. A
sportscaster could have not put it any better when he said “Unlike many players, he prefers practicing
over partying. When he isn’t practicing, he’s working out. When he isn’t working out, he’s studying game
tapes in his room.”

Post-Game Press Conference

Once Kobe retired, the basketball landscape felt different for those who have rooted for him all
throughout his journey in the NBA. The NBA Legend, however, was happy with his decision. He claimed
he had given his all, and was ready to become the best in his new role --- being a father. While fulfilling
his responsibilities as a family man, Kobe was still doing basketball things ---- helping out communities
through basketball, empowering women and basketball aspirants from around the globe, watching
games with and coaching her daughter Gianna, among others. He was living the life he wanted but fate
wasn’t too generous to let him.

At 41, the Lakers’ superstar, future HoF and one of the greatest players of all-time, has died in a
helicopter crash with her daughter Gianna and 7 others. The world was and is in disbelief. The death was
sudden, tragic, inconceivable and piercing at different levels. The world has lost an icon so soon. The
world is deeply saddened. The world is grieving.

As soon as the news on Kobe’s passing broke, the world knew it was in for a long emotional torment.
NBA Players, family members, friends, fans, and even those who have never had a single encounter with
nor even knew Kobe, paid their respect in forms they knew. The internet was flooded with messages of
pain and mourning. Fans gathered outside the Staples Center to offer just anything --- from flowers to
candles, balls, jerseys. The outpouring of support and prayers was overwhelming. Players committing in-
game infractions such as 8 and 24-second violation, changing their jersey numbers, sporting Kobe
sneakers, inking their skin with symbols associated with Kobe; Franchise owners officially and
unofficially retiring his 8 & 24 jersey numbers; Athletes from different sports sharing their best Kobe
moments; NBA Teams observing 24 seconds of silence before tip-in; Fans changing their wallpapers with
their favourite Kobe photo, initiating the change of the NBA logo with a Kobe silhouette; Street artists
creating Kobe and Gigi murals; NBA showing tributes to the Black Mamba and making changes for the
All-Star game --- all for the athlete whose ruthless competitiveness, passion for the game and constant
hunger for excellence transcended sports.

An icon, a father, a son, a husband, a legend, an inspiration. Rest easy, Kobe Bean “Black Mamba”
Bryant.

(Statcredits: Basketball-Reference.com)