By: William Burns, Sports Editor
On Sunday morning, January 26th, a tragedy occurred that affected people all across the globe. Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were killed in a helicopter accident in Calabasas, California. Bryant was 41 years old and is survived by his wife Vanessa and three other daughters.
Just hours before the tragic accident, Bryant was seen on national television at a basketball game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers. At this game, Lebron James passed Bryant on the NBA all-time scoring list, claiming Bryant’s number three spot.
Bryant was born in Philly in 1978 and grew up mainly in Italy. His father played professional basketball in Italy which fueled his passion for the sport. Bryant came home to Philly to play basketball in high school. His skills were quickly put on display and he gained national attention for his abilities. Bryant entered the draft right after high school at the age of 17. He was drafted 13th overall in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets, but had already been traded to the Lakers, where he signed his first contract.
Bryant played his whole basketball career with the Los Angeles Lakers. The six-foot-six shooting guard was one of the most dominant players on the court in NBA history, piling up five NBA titles, a record 18 straight All-Star Game selections and four All-Star Game MVP Awards. He was one of the most exciting players to watch in his era, and inspired people all over the world to be their best. Kids everywhere were shouting out “Kobe” whenever they threw something, hoping to channel his mamba mentality and ability to make great shots.
Besides basketball, Bryant had many endorsement deals. Some memorable deals include Nintendo, Turkish Airlines, Sprite, and McDonalds. Of course, we cannot forget his deal with Nike, where he has his own shoe and apparel line. Besides endorsements, Bryant also made smart investments and built up his wealth.
Upon hearing of his passing, athletes across the NBA and the NFL at the Pro Bowl honored Bryant with moving tributes and celebrations. The extent of his impact was far reaching, and his legendary career and life will live on forever.
