Kobe Bryant's Impact

A.E. Housman’s haunting poem, “To An Athlete Dying Young”, praises the good fortune of an athlete dying young at their peak, never to know fading glory. Kobe Bryant’s premature death, however, was tragic because, even as he moved past his athletic peak, he became even more determined to achieve greatness, both on and off the court, something that his family continued even after his death.

Bryant died tragically along with his daughter, Gianna, and seven others, in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, in transit to his daughter's basketball game. Understandably, the world reflexively reran his achievements, although this was a premature assessment of his legacy.

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Bryant’s athletic peak is unquestionably higher than most. Drafted directly from high school by the Charlotte Hornets (the first guard ever so taken), he was traded immediately to the Los Angeles Lakers, for whom he played from 1996-2016, his entire career. Continuing the tradition of Jerry West, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and Earvin Johnson, Bryant’s Lakers won five

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NBA championships. Individually, he was a two-time NBA Finals MVP, one-time NBA MVP, eighteen-time NBA all-star, four-time NBA all-star game MVP, eleven-time All-NBA first team, two-time NBA scoring champion, the second highest single game point scorer, fourth highest NBA scorer, all-time leading career scorer for the Lakers, and two-time Olympic gold medalist.

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Those achievements recognized his legendary work ethic. He sought to raise his competitive bar to a level no one could achieve. Famously, at the 2008 Olympics, LeBron James and other teammates walked into the gym for an early morning practice. There, they saw Byant already drenched in sweat working out. Turning to teammates, James said, “yeah he is different”. Bryant’s dedication intensified after 2003 sexual assault arrest, when he adopted his,“Black Mamba” personality. As Bryant explained, “Kobe” addressed personal challenges, while “Black Mamba” handled the basketball responsibilities characterized by a relentless work ethic, an obsession to work hard, never accept failure, achieve greatness, and destroy opponents. Black Mamba was also a leadership style. He aggressively pushed teammates to be their best, challenging them to the point where some considered him a bully, all to help them improve.

 

Bryant inspired many current players such as LeBron James who said, “Kobe’s a brother to me” in his first speech after Bryant died, adding “From the time I was in high school and watching him from afar to getting into the League at 18 watching him up close,....., the only thing we always shared is that determination to just want to win and just want to be great.”

 

Former NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo told a story of Bryant pulling him aside “for about an hour telling me to work on [my] jump shot, get in the gym every day, and shoot one thousand jumpers per day.” Bryant also told him about the mentality it took to be great; “Be serious until the last day you play basketball”. Giannis said. [I] literally changed after that meeting.”

 

Bryant also achieved greatness off the court, using his resources and determination to improve the lives of others. In 2007, for example, Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, founded The Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, dedicated to improving the lives of others, domestically and globally, and encouraging young people to participate in sports. In addition, through the Make-a-Wish Foundation, he granted over 200 wishes. He also was involved in NBA Cared, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the After School All Stars. Bryant, also, started Mamba Sports Academy to train and mentor athletes ages 8-18. Always striving, he wrote a book, coached his late daughters basketball team and won an Oscar award. Transforming into a meaningful contributor to society from an athlete obsessed with achievement, his best life seemed in front of him, just as his life expectedly and prematurely ended.

 

Even in death, Bryant’s legacy continued to grow. Vanessa Bryant purposefully continued to enhance Bryant’s legacy through philanthropy and community support. In memory of Kobe and Gianna, she founded Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation (MMSF), to create positive impacts for underserved athletes and a world where young boys and girls have equal opportunities to pursue their dreams through sports and life. Recently, Vanessa, through MMSF, leaned in to help families in need during the Los Angeles wildfires, donating over 8,000 clothing items and Nike Kobe sneakers.

 

As Bryant’s legacy evolves, efforts to assess his life continue. For example, to commemorate the five year anniversary of Bryant’s passing, CNN released a three-part docuseries entitled, “Kobe: The Making of a Legend.” Starting from his youth in Italy and Philadelphia, the series examines all aspects of Bryant’s life as an athlete, husband, and father, highlighting his dedication to family amd basketball while also addressing, in detail, the challenging relationships with his parents amd his 2003 sexual assault case.

 

Members of the Great Neck North Varsity Girls Basketball team have watched and been impacted by the docuseries. Juliana Levy said, “ I could see his intensity and purpose in everything he did on the court and I try to remember that every day at practice. Alexa Hizon, who also watched it, said “ I no find myself using something similar to the mentality Bryant did to attack every aspect of my life”