Just went through the news of the tragic death of American Basketball player Kobe Bryant. The gem didn’t deserve to have his life end this way. But neither can we predict, nor change certain things related to life and death. If not Kobe Bryant, we can, however, keep his memories and achievements alive. Therefore, this writing is solely dedicated to the remarkable legacy of Kobe Bryant.Early Life
Born in Philadelphia, to Joe and Pamela Cox Bryant, Kobe Bryant was the only son of his parents. Both his parents and his maternal uncle John Chubby Cox were great basketball players. Not wrong to say, he inherited the talent from his family.
Kobe attended the Lower Merion High School located in Pennsylvania and was titled to be the basketball player of the country at the high school level. Bryant decided to try directly for the pros without applying for a college. After high school, he appeared for the 1996 NBA draft, where Charlotte Hornets chose Kobe as his 13th pick. Later, he was traded to the Lakers.
Professional Career
Bryant is the 6th player in NBA history to qualify for 'Prep to Pro' basketball team. At a young age of
17, Kobe Bryant had already made headlines for his immense potential. In his time, he was the youngest to play an NBA game. As a rookie, Kobe emerged as a high-flyer and also a favorite of fans when he conquered the Slam Dunk Contest of 1997. After his second season, he was already recognized as an All-Star of NBA. Bryant, along with his teammate Shaquille O'Neal, led his team Lakers to three NBA championships from 2000 to 2002.In 2004, Lakers lost NBA Finals, and O'Neal was traded. Bryant was then the primary asset of the Lakers and led the team in NBA during the two seasons between 2005–2007. Bryant pushed the Lakers to success in two championships held in 2009 and 2010. On both occasions, he was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. Bryant continued to remain at the top until the 2013 championship when he ruptured his Achilles tendon and missed the overall season due to the injury. Being on and off the court (due to physical damages) for the next two seasons, Kobe Bryant decided to retire after 2015-16 season.
Achievements
Kobe Bryant's 20-year career is full of remarkable achievements. He was five times NBA champion, twice an NBA finals MVP, and eighteen times All-Star. In 2006, Bryant made his highest career score of 81 points which also accounts for second-most highest points scored in a single game, first being Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points in 1962.
He was also a member of the US men’s basketball gold medalist teams at both the Beijing Olympic Games (2008) and the London Olympic Games (2012).
Death
On January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant was traveling in a helicopter with his 13 years old daughter for a girl’s basketball match at Bryant's Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks. He had always endorsed women's sports and gave his life supporting it. The helicopter crashed and caught fire, killing everyone on board.