Kobe Bryant Remembered

It goes without saying that this week has been difficult for any basketball fan with a beating heart. The passing of Kobe Bryant and the eight other victims of his helicopter's crash has rocked the NBA to its very core, leaving a widespread ripple of confusion, sadness, and emptiness. 

My editor at Beale Street Bears had pitched a roundtable to our writers where we would all share our favorite Kobe memories, as part of the site's tribute. Unfortunately, the piece didn't come to fruition, leaving my farewell in the purgatory of an internet drive. 

Instead, I decided to publish it here, a send-off to a man I'd written so much about over the years; idolized as a teenager, and carried something far beyond respect for as an adult.

So much has been said about Kobe over the past few days, hopefully this is on point:

We lost a straight-up legend on Sunday. Kobe Bryant's sudden and jarring death is an unparalleled tragedy; in the NBA and perhaps in all of sports. Its immense sadness is only amplified by those who were lost with Kobe, including his daughter Gianna. Several days later, it's still difficult to fully comprehend and accept. 

Kobe grew up before my eyes. An obsessed NBA fan since the 90's, I watched him evolve from precocious youngster to basketball demigod. From sunglasses on his forehead at his NBA Draft declaration, to 18-time All-Star, 5-time Champion, MVP, and unanimous first-ballot Hall of Famer. 

From scrutinized, to villainized, to worshiped internationally.

Along the way, he provided us countless memories to remember him by fondly. He left his mark not only all over the NBA for two decades, but on the city of Los Angeles, the culture of basketball, hell the entire World. Of all the millions of kids who grew up trying to be "Like Mike", Kobe came the closest we might ever see. He inspired a new generation to be Like Kobe, attacking life with a #MambaMentality, no matter the situation. 

It's difficult to pick a favorite Kobe memory from his Greatest Hits archive. His catalog is so diverse; his feats so legendary. The 3-peat was the only of its kind we've seen this century. The 40-streak was captivating. 81 was spellbinding. The All-Star Co-MVP with Shaq was heartwarming. The Achilles free-throws were heroic. The last game was a perfect exit. And dozens of dunks, dimes and daggers are on instant-recall anytime a basketball fan hears his name. 

But for me, perhaps Kobe's most enduring memory is his most vindicating - the Lakers' 2009 NBA Championship.

Kobe had been through a pretty rough stretch the previous few seasons. He had weathered rape allegations, been basically blamed for breaking up the Lakers' dynasty, and was under fire for being a bad teammate, and unable to win without Shaq. He was definitely the most polarizing NBA player at the time, and probably one of the more hated athletes in pro sports. 

Slowly, Kobe underwent a very dramatic shift. It started with a new number, and evolved into a new attitude. He became a better teammate and leader; passing more, calling-out less, letting his indomitable work ethic lead by example rather than alienate his squad. The results showed, and the '09 title was the moment where Kobe Bryant officially rose above all the drama. The haters were silenced, and he was unquestionably on top of the basketball world. This time, without peer. 

Kobe doing his best to permeate that excellence to the next generation makes his loss that much more painful. That he was on his way to his daughter's game is a cruel irony for a man who walked, talked, ate, breathed, lived and ultimately died basketball. 

The game has been robbed of someone to whom it is deeply indebted. Multiple families have been torn apart in the most horrifying way possible. It's tough to make sense of. We lost an all-time athlete and competitor, who impacted and inspired millions. He now only can through memories, of which he blessed us with so many great ones.