In memory of Kobe

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Daniela Martell, Sports Editor

In Kobe Bryant’s mere 41 years of life, he accomplished many things.

He won five NBA championships, two Olympic medals, 18 All-Star games, two Finals MVPs — the list goes on and on.

The biggest basketball players—Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Gary Payton— all say that Kobe was an incredible athlete.

He would seek help from everyone, always believing that there was room for improvement everywhere.

However, Kobe Bryant’s biggest accomplishment was his family.

Bryant was a family man.

He and his wife, Vanessa Bryant, went from high school sweethearts to life-long partners.

In their 20 years of marriage, they had four daughters: Natalia, Bianka, Capri, and Gianna.

Gianna Bryant, Gigi, was 13 years old when she and her father died in the fatal helicopter accident that killed seven others.

Gigi followed her father’s footsteps and played basketball, with the dream of playing in the National Women’s Basketball League.

Kobe, after retiring from the NBA in 2016, coached his daughter’s team.

On February 24, 2020, a memorial was held in the Staples Center.

Symbolically, the date the memorial was held, 2/24, were the numbers of both Gigi and Kobe’s jerseys.

In the memorial, Vanessa Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan, and many more gave speeches.

Vanessa Bryant said, “Kobe was the MVP of girl dads — or MVD.”

He was an idol to many.

After his death on January 26, 2020, his fans started an online petition to have the NBA change the official logo that has Jerry West’s silhouette to one of Kobe Bryant’s.

The goal was to get 100 signatures, and it got three million in five days.

The streets of Los Angeles were filled with mourning fans after his death.

LA’s walls were turned into murals commemorating Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Bryant’s legacy will truly live on forever.