Kobe’s Resume:
5x NBA champion, NBA Most Valuable Player, 18x NBA All Star and so much more. Kobe Bryant was not only one of the NBA’s best basketball players of all time, but he was also a devoted husband, father, friend and role model to many. Thousands of fans of all ages looked up to him. Unfortunately, at the age of 41, Kobe Bryant died in a horrific helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, along with his 13 year old daughter, Gianna, and seven other passengers. Millions of Americans mourn his devastating death.

What everyone did in honor of Kobe Bryant, after his death:
Bryant’s death has the world’s attention. Thousands of stars have given him shout outs; all NBA teams committed timing violations on the courts during games; commercials, billboards, tributes, monuments, and so much more. The effect Bryant had on people throughout the world is boundless. How does one’s life get to mean so much to millions of people?

What made Kobe Bryant so special to hundreds of fans:
Bryant is a major part of basketball history. The crash hits close to home for any parents knowing that Bryant’s daughter, Gianna, also died in the crash. Even more, he was a good man with few enemies. Additionally, maybe the most significant reason, Kobe had something universally desired by all people: endless motivation.

Anecdote:
All NBA players knew of his work-ethic. Tony Gaffney, a former teammate, said in an interview, “If we had a 10:30 a.m. practice, [Bryant] would be in the gym at 6:00, take his daughters Natalia and Gianna to school at 8:00, then come back around 9:00 to shoot some more.” This shows Bryant’s hard work and dedication to basketball.

Universal wants, how all relate:
All people want; whether it’s a new phone, a happy life or five NBA championships. People need to give effort if they want to fulfill their desires. While some things are easy to obtain, other things take hard work. The desire to do that hard work is just as difficult as the task at hand. Most don’t have the drive to commit to things like Bryant did. Few can. Less do.

What watching Kobe Bryant showed:
While Bryant’s basketball statistics don’t necessarily point to him as the Greatest Of All Time, there are still hundreds of die-hard fans insisting he is. Why? When Bryant played basketball, there was an emotional connection that each fan unconsciously felt. Each person wants to be the most motivated and most achieved. Bryant showed it was possible to do something people thought was impossible. On and off the court, fan’s saw that and felt a deep connection.

How many felt after Kobe Bryant’s death:
For all who don’t grieve- imagine having a symbol to represent the quality you’ve always wanted. That symbol showed how to become better. Now, imagine it was gone, just like that. This is how millions of fans felt this past week. Clouds fill the sky with the world’s grief.