Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of what would have been Kobe Bryant’s 46th birthday.
Born August 23rd, 1978, Bryant has long been hailed as one of the NBA players of all time. Drafted straight out of Lower Merion High School in 1996, Bryant landed on the Los Angeles Lakers, where he spent his entire 20-year career. The icon became widely recognized for his relentless work ethic, once famously stating, “I have nothing in common with lazy people.”
Known for his “Mamba Mentality,” Bryant earned numerous accolades, including five NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and an NBA Most Valuable Player honor in 2008. Additionally, Bryant was an 18-time NBA All-Star, securing a spot on the All-NBA First Team an impressive 11 times.
Off the court, Bryant was dedicated to youth sports. He helped mold the basketball skills of his late daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant. Their shared love of basketball motivated the star player to launch his Mamba Sports Academy in 2018. The training facility continues to help rising athletes achieve their goals in Kobe’s and Gigi’s honor.
Before his untimely passing on January 26th, 2020, which also claimed the life of Gigi, Bryant also dived into filmmaking. His film, “Dear Basketball,” won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2018. The nearly five-and-a-half-minute flick brings to life a touching poem that the Los Angeles Laker penned to announce Bryant’s retirement in November 2015.
Despite his life being tragically cut short, Bryant’s legacy lives on through his family, longtime Nike deal, and newly unveiled statues at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles.
