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Castillo-Nazario O. Christian

Mr.Oh

WRLD LIT

2-4-20

Mamba Out

Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978. Bryant was an American professional

basketball player and spent his entire 20 season career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant

went by many names and was an icon all over the world, but most respected because of the love

he had for the game. Everyone wants to be like Kobe, it does not matter how talented you were,

he gives us hope, if you worked hard enough you can achieve your goals. Kobe Bryant is my idol

and a global citizen the black mamba was an emerged leader in the basketball community, was

philanthropic and most importantly inspired me to become the greatest self I can be.

Kobe Bryant was one of the greatest leaders in the NBA not because he could hit the 4th

quarter last-second clutch shot, or the fact that he studied the playbook, practice shots again and

again and again and again until he knows the ball will go in. Kobe said, “To be an effective

leader, you really have to a good listener.” and that is what won him 5 championship titles, yes

he hit game-winning shots but only because his team believed how good he really was. By being

a really good listener he became an effective leader at such a young age and unlimited potential

that led him to endorsement deals.

Kobe having three daughters consecutively back to back shows how much he loved his

first daughter. Although Kobe had three daughters, Gigi, the one and only child that would share

her father’s passion for basketball. Kobe and Vanessa Bryant set up a foundation where they can
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mold young athletes to become leaders for future generations. It partnered up with organizations

like ​United Way of Greater Los Angeles,​ ​Step Up on Second​, and homeless youth drop center ​My

Friend’s Place​. He helped the same city that supported and wore his jersey on its back with

pride, that is what makes Kobe Bryant a global citizen.

Mamba mentality really changes and shifted my paradigm. I admired Kobe for his hard

work and determination, his hunger, to always be the best version of himself each and every

second that he was awake. I had a similar drive and I looked at Kobe’s highlight of his NBA

career and was inspired to lose weight. He never made an excuse all he put was effort and that’s

exactly what I do when I tried to acquire and maintain a higher GPA in order to get admissions

to a CSU campus.

Kobe Bryant is my idol and a global citizen the black mamba was an emerged leader in

the basketball community, was philanthropic and most importantly inspired me to become the

greatest self I can be. A professional basketball player with a 20 season long career that stuck for

the long haul, winning 5 NBA championships. Kobe Bryant died on January 26, 2020, but the

black mamba will live on in Los Angeles’s heart and pride.