I never met Kobe in real life, or even seen him play in real life. And yet, it feels like I lost a close friend. Whether you liked the LA Lakers or not, it was obvious that Kobe Bryant put everything he had into being the best basketball player he could be. He had a tremendous impact and influence on a lot of us. We looked up to Kobe, and everyone would yell, "Kobe!" before they took a shot. Some may only see him as a great basketball player, but even off the court, his mentality applies to several aspects to life.
Kobe was a fierce competitor. When fourth quarter came, you of course gave the ball to Kobe, because that's when he most thrives. When the pressure is on, he wants control of the ball. He wants to defend their best player. No one could beat his work ethic. He had more Drive than anyone. He'd train more hours and work hard everyday to achieve his goals. He was committed, determined and passionate to be the best version of himself. He taught self-belief and that there is no substitute for hard work. That also applied to business, and taking care of his family. He would know how to relax and have fun, but when it's time to work, he's maximizing his advantages and grinding at his craft. He'd chase down mentors to learn from them, and ask them questions on how to develop his game better. He'd learn from his failures and challenge himself to grow stronger.
Again, I probably wouldn't be this torn up about any other celebrity or athlete. It shows how much his philosophy, hard work and mentality really influenced my life. On the court he was an assassin. He was aggressive, quick and paid attention to detail. If it weren't for Michael Jordan, it would be no contest that Kobe Bryant is the G.O.A.T. But for a lot of millennials, he was our Michael Jordan. We grew up watching Kobe on TV. He was our greatest for our generation. He literally played on a different level and tier than anyone else. But this goes beyond just the sport of basketball. Kobe represented a way of life. Kobe was persistent, dedicated, resolved, and had confidence. You attack and fight for your attaining your goals. You don't take short cuts and cheat yourself. You develop the discipline to make your dreams a reality.
His passing is tragic. He was only 41. and really just started his retirement. He had still had so much left to give. His daughter had potential to go to the WNBA one day. Words have a hard time expressing how much he meant. The whole world became devastated with this news. It brings up so much emotions. You feel sick, and even angry that he's gone. Some guys want to change the game of 21, to 24. Many basketball games that day ran out the 24 sec clock and ran out the 8 second backcourt penalty to pay honor and tribute to him. He was really one of a kind and we'll all miss him.
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