On January 26, 2020, one of the biggest legends in the name of basketball, Kobe Bryant, died. Due to a devastating helicopter crash, this basketball legend, his daughter, and seven others lost their lives. Kobe Bryant is often mentioned alongside Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and more of the greatest basketball players of all time. A dominant player on and off the court, Bryant joined the NBA straight out of high school. He was originally drafted to the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick of the 1996 NBA draft but was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played 20 seasons as a small forward and shooting guard.
Here are some of his accomplishments:
In only his second NBA season, he was voted to be a starter for the 1998 All-Star Game, and became the youngest All-Star in history at age 19.
He then went on to win three NBA championships in a row and was voted first-team All-NBA in years 2002, 2003, 2004.
In early 2006, Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second highest single game mark in NBA history.
In 2008, Bryant was named MVP and carried the Lakers to the championships for the years 2008-2010.
He played on both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic teams, winning multiple gold medals with teammates, such as Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, before suffering from an injury in 2013.
In late 2014, he surpassed legend Michael Jordan for third all-time on the scoring list for the NBA.
Kobe Bryant suffered from two more injuries before announcing his retirement in 2016. He scored 60 points in his last game, going out with a bang. Kobe Bryant’s tragic death shocked the world, but he shouldn’t be remembered for the helicopter crash, more for his achievements. Kobe Bryant’s legacy will not only inspire aspiring basketball players, but his "Mamba Mentality" is an inspiration to anyone with a dream. He taught us the lesson of bravery and diligence, to not take loved ones for granted, and most importantly, to not give up and keep fighting.