This cannot be real…

That was the first thought I had when I saw the news about the tragic helicopter crash that took the lives of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others. I kept refreshing the page and checking all over social media, hoping that it was just a cruel internet hoax. Instead, all I could find were more and more sources confirming that the news was real.

I was shocked, devastated and heart broken. It felt as if I had lost a friend or family member.

Kobe was my favourite basketball player of all-time. I had been drawn to basketball at a young age, but watching Kobe really helped me fall in love with the game. I idolized and thought of him as a hero. It was hard not to be in awe of his incredible athletic ability, relentless work ethic, competitive fire, fearlessness and will to win. I think that is why he always seemed to be surprisingly calm in the most high stakes and pressure filled situations. He was going to leave it all out on the court and would have no regrets about the results.

I am part of the generation that grew up watching Kobe in his prime. I was too young to have watched Michael Jordan play. In the debate of who was better between Jordan and Kobe, the answer for me was always Kobe. He was the Michael Jordan of my generation. He was the best basketball player I had ever seen with my own two eyes.

Kobe was also as real as they come. It was so refreshing to see an athlete speak his mind and express exactly what their thoughts were. You could feel his authenticity and that resonated with so many fans throughout his playing career and beyond.

It has been amazing to see the response worldwide to Kobe’s passing. It shows the profound impact he had on the lives of so many and not just basketball fans. He was able to maximize all of his abilities and achieve as much as he could in his chosen profession. That is something we all admire and strive to do ourselves.

Kobe’s legacy is not just about winning five NBA championships, winning an Oscar and having a successful investment portfolio. He inspired us to live life to the fullest, chase our dreams with everything we have and to never give up until we achieved them. That is what I will remember most and be grateful for. The Mamba Mentality will live on forever.

Whenever I shoot a fade away on the basketball court or toss a piece of paper in the garbage, I will continue to yell “Kobe”.

#RIPMamba #KobeFarewell