Last year, the world lost the one and only Kobe Bryant. Even after 12 months, the tragic passing of the global icon and the members of his Mamba Academy program proves hard to process as fans, sneakerheads and simply human beings.
For the first installment of SoleSavy Speaks Up, we asked SoleSavy community members to share stories and feelings on what Kobe meant to them. These stories ranged from personal, such as how one applies Mamba Mentality to their daily life, to the first Kobe shoe they ever purchased or to interactions they had with him. Just the same, these stories were as wide-reaching as sharing their favorite Kobe game, Kobe sneaker or Kobe TV commercial.
As we honor the Black Mamba as a community, see what various members of the SoleSavy squad had to say about Kobe in this SoleSavy Speaks Up tribute.
My hero. Kobe guided me on how to be a man and overcome everything. – Nikeman
When I think of Kobe the first thing that comes to mind is personal excellence. As a Phoenix Suns fan, I was never a fan of the Lakers but was certainly a fan of Kobe. The Mamba Mentality applies to all aspects of life and it’s a mantra I try to live by. I never cry when celebrities die but when Kobe and his daughter died I was balling out in tears. Kobe was a living legend and in his passing we unfortunately have to remove the living part. Kobe will always have a special place in my heart as a former hooper and current hoop fanatic. #mambaforever – Kobecollector824
Kobe gave me the joy and love of basketball, plain and simple. – living.
Someone who embodies the true meaning of hard work. Kobe showed us where hard work and dedication can take us. He not only proved this through his love for the game but more importantly showed it through how dedicated he was with being a father to his daughters. Kobe is an inspiration to me everyday by working hard at everything I do. – PhilipG
As a Lakers fan, Kobe meant everything to LA basketball during and even after his career. We all as hoopers imitated his moves on the court and to complete the look, had to cop his latest kicks — even the toasters that are called the Adidas Kobe 2. His death was such a loss for the city of LA but really to the entire world. I’ll never forget the joy he helped bring to LA sports fans for so long. As a lifelong tribute to him, I’ll continue to mutter “Kobe” each time I shoot a wad of paper into a trash can. RIP, Mamba! – Chris C
My favorite player on my favorite team was Kobe Bryant. I admired his tenacity, work ethic, focus and drive. He first came into the NBA in 1996 when I started high school. His first championship was in 2000 when I graduated high school and started college and his last championship was in 2010 when I finished graduate school. So, I naturally felt a strong connection to him during his storied career. His strive for greatness inspired me to push through the tough times as I aimed to succeed in my career. I will always remember that. Thank you, Kobe. #RIPKobe – JGamb
In my younger days, Kobe was the guy I most loved to hate. His skill and drive were obvious, but too many times he thwarted teams I loved to watch. Most notably of these was the Sacramento Kings. I remember one year after the Lakers had won the championship, word came out that Kobe put on like 10-15 lbs of muscle in the offseason — my memory may have exaggerated that. Me and my buddy were like, “Psssh, not impressed. This is the Kings’ year.” But I knew the truth: that made an already scary basketball talent even worse…or as the case may be, BETTER! Of course, that’s exactly how it played out. The Lakers and Kings met in the Conference Finals and Kobe smoked them in a seven-game classic playoff series and the Lakers went on to three-peat. As I got older, I grew to appreciate Kobe much more, especially for how he approached both the game and life. He was a student of everything he did and is an inspiration to take everything you do with conviction, no matter what and focus just as much, if not more, to the mental aspect of the game as you do the physical. RIP, Mamba. – Jim (TheHead)
Kobe means basketball and freshness to me. When Jordan left the game, I wanted to be like him just like I wanted to be like Jordan. Kobe was the young fresh dude that always had highlights every game. I know everyone says it, but I too was keen to say “Kobe!” when throwing paper trash. Contested or not, it always seemed to be buckets. Man, the adidas Crazy 8 in White/Black? That was truly how I always picture him. Young rookie with high energy. RIP to a legend. – @Rizzzy
Kobe was the reason I started playing basketball! My favorite memory of him was that playoff game against Phoenix when he hit that buzzer beater!! Man, as a 10-11 year old kid it was an amazing feeling watching that game made me want to play basketball! – jarrelg
Kobe Bryant was actually what got me to join SoleSavy. I was going for the Kobe Protos 5 “Bruce Lee” and took a hard L. So in some weird way, Kobe Bryant helped me find an extended family with one common interest which is sneakers. I was too young to appreciate Michael Jordan, so Kobe was the player I gravitated towards which I am assuming is the same gravitational pull that Michael Jordan had to the fans in his time. Kobe Bryant was someone that always played hard every time he hit the court. There was no rest in him — what is now known as “Mamba Mentality.” Now to be honest as a Sacramento Kings fan, I hated Kobe, but only because he prevented my team from a championship. However, I have nothing but the utmost respect for him. I remember hearing a podcast of the one of many stories of Kobe Bryant, his drive and his Mamba Mentality. The story went into how Kobe Bryant had approached a prominent venture capitalist in Silicon Valley and was interested in investing. The prominent venture capitalist has been through this routine before with many other people and athletes who want to get into the business with no success and commitment but just false promises. So as a test, the venture capitalist gave Kobe Bryant homework and suggested books for him to read with the assumption he would never hear from him again. Kobe then calls the venture capitalist the next day having read all the books the night before and wanted to discuss the things he read. The venture capitalist was so impressed and understood how Kobe’s reputation preceded him that he went into business with him. So what does Kobe mean to me? He is an example of what can happen if you have such resolve and what can be achieved if you have that resolve and that extreme belief in yourself. R.I.P. Kobe Bryant and “MAMBA MENTALITY” forever. – retailorunder
This is such a loaded question. Following the game of basketball before ever getting into sneakers, my first favorite athlete was always Michael Jordan and then Kobe Bryant. Kobe was always an amazing basketball player to me. He was the second coming of MJ in my opinion. I was never a Lakers fan, but I was a Kobe fan and his passing affected me greatly as it did many of my friends in the sneaker community. When I heard that Kobe was involved in a helicopter crash I could never believe it. I refused to believe it. I’ll always remember what I was doing that day: watching sports while on the couch with my son who was born three weeks prior. It is still hard to believe that Kobe is gone. On the other side of things, I am a huge Kobe collector. I own a little over 180 pairs of JUST Kobe sneakers. I have been purchasing them from the time of the adidas Crazy 8 all the way until the recent “Grinch” Kobe 6 drop. His sneaker line was always comfortable and is for sure my favorite line to purchase in terms of Nike Basketball. Kobe’s legacy and all the great sneaker moments will always be with me. I still miss him greatly, but I know he’s upstairs watching down on his family and friends alongside Gigi. #mambaforever – dmxgod_nt
Kobe was my idol. He meant a lot to the game of basketball and the world beyond basketball. Forever the greatest Laker, forever the greatest player to wear the numbers 8/24. Forever Kobe! – Melzthajedi
He meant everything to a Southern California boy who was only ten years old when he was turned on to this player #8 from my favorite team, the Los Angeles Lakers! I want to keep it short because to this day, even a year later, it’s still very emotional. My favorite times watching Kobe was, yes, winning championships but also the losing years when I knew I was still watching something special. The highlight of my adult life was getting a fist bump from my man in 2010 while the LA Lakers were riding down Figueroa celebrating their 16th championship! I don’t like to look at it as we lost a great one. I like to look at it as we were lucky enough to witness one of the greatest to ever do it and that man was number 8-24, Kobe Bean Bryant! – Mikeraiders
To me, Kobe meant greatness. In the sneaker community, his sneakers represented sneakers that I could never afford to have but always wanted as a kid. I would watch my favorite players wear their shoes and would always think how cool it would be to have a pair for myself and to be able to hoop in a pair one day. Losing Kobe was truly saddening as we had lost a legend in not only basketball, but also the sneaker community. – jonathan
Father. As a father myself, I wept for him dying with his child and the children he left behind. He loved his kids like he loved basketball. – Emil Mouhanna
Where do I begin? I watched him enter the league as a rookie and struggle to get playing time because he was “young.” He worked. I watched him improve, make the All-Star team and go toe-to-toe against MJ. He worked. I watched him win not one, not two but three championships in a row with Shaq. He worked harder. I watched him lose on the biggest stage and become the villain. He worked twice as hard. I watched him lose multiple MVPs and lose again on the biggest stage only to come back stronger. I watched him win MVP and win back to back titles without Shaq. He continued to work. He taught, he led and he motivated the younger generation, those who we watch today. He was never afraid to fail and attacked greatness with a relentless will. For me, Kobe was basketball. I looked at and studied the game differently because of him. He was a technician, a basketball savant. When he passed away, it hurt…a lot. So, we focus on the good times, the car and trash can commercials, the championships, the books, the awards, the teachings and we do what Kobe would have wanted…everyday be better! – Ohhwillie
Kobe meant more to me than I thought he did. I knew about him growing up but didn’t really hate him until the 2008 Finals vs the Celtics where my love of basketball fully bloomed. And although I had that hate, I found myself modeling my game after his from his defensive intensity to his pull-up jumpers. It wasn’t until late 2009 when I picked up the Nike Zoom Kobe 4 “Away Gradient” that I fell into an obsession with sneakers, performance of sneakers and driving myself into being a problem on the court like Kobe was. The obsessions got stronger and more refined through the years, and it was bittersweet to see the Mamba leave the game for good, but he made it better than he found it. Like many of the players who carried on the “Mamba Mentality” by continuing to wear the shoes on court, I did just the same but also off the court and was proud of it. I still looked forward to the next big things Kobe did post-retirement, his next moves after basketball and still pushing Nike to innovate with his signature line. From Dear Basketball, interviews on podcasts, Protro and NXT lines, to winning an Emmy, I ate everything up, hung on every word and thought he could do no wrong. I felt like this is how things were going to be from now on and then one afternoon while chilling with my friend — while I wore the “Chaos” 6s, ironically — everything changed. To this day, it’s still surreal to me and I get choked up thinking not just about how tragic it was, about how we weren’t going to get to see how much more he was going to give to the world. I wanted to see his Hall of Fame speech, I wanted to see him bestow more wisdom and knowledge to the younger generations, I wanted to see him grow old and chop it up with his former peers like what we see nowadays. This might go for a lot of others but I didn’t know how much he meant to me until he was gone. What happened to him, his daughter Gianna, and everyone else on that fateful day taught me that life is too short, and to live in the moment because you might never get that again. Thank you for reading this. Mamba Forever. – rngmond
I remember the night when he ruptured his Achilles and came out and shot those free throws. That year he put the Lakers on his back and took them to the playoffs. The Kobe 9 will always be my favorite model because every colorway told a story of his setback and his determination to come back from it. His journey inspires me to keep challenging myself and to continue doing what I love. – Curtis Reid
Anytime I face a difficult challenge, I try my best to channel my inner Black Mamba and will myself to victory. I’ll never forget Kobe’s drive, determination and passion. To be a different beast and the same animal. To be the Mamba and take down any obstacle. We’ll always remember you Mamba and Mambacita. – Ed Sablan
Kobe was and still is one of my heroes. I grew up without a dad. Most of my life was surrounded by women and girls so I didn’t really have many male figures to look up to. I know it’s silly since I didn’t personally know him, but I feel like I did. From the moment he stepped on court and I saw him play, I knew he was my favorite player. He always has been and always will. He didn’t only have talent but he put in work to continue to grow beyond that talent and reach levels unheard of. My first Kobe sneaker was the Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2k5. Although I know it’s not his official first Nike sneaker, it did display his signature emblem for the first time. Crazy to think but I still have it!! I only hoop in Kobes. He has done great things for the game not only in the NBA but in the WNBA and for kids all around the world. The BASKETBALL legend transcended the sport and was an impact everywhere in many aspects. What can I say…Mamba Mentality. We miss you, Mamba. Thanks for all the memories. God bless you, your daughter and everyone who was in that awful tragedy. Mamba forever! – Gers
I could never be able to type what Kobe means to me because it would go on for pages and pages. But to keep it short, Kobe is the reason I started watching basketball. I’ve been a die-hard Lakers fan since I was a kid and saw a jersey with my first name on the back. He has taught me to never quit and continue perfecting my craft. He has brought me so much joy in just watching him play and he showed that the only bad shot is the one you don’t take. I can go on and on, but Kobe meant so much to me that I made sure to schedule my fiancé’s c section on the 24th so that my son could be born on the 24th. Now I call him my little Kobe. When Kobe Bryant passed, I was devastated and many close friends and family called me to check on how I was doing just because they knew how much he meant to me. It was like my father dying. Kobe still means a great deal to me and I hope to soon get a tattoo tribute for him on my shooting arm so every time I shoot, I yell out…..KOBE!!!! – Bryantg11
He showed the world that hard work and perseverance can grant any of your wishes in life. I try to implement that everyday in my life and never give up on any goal on any goal I have set for myself. – Eric B
Kobe to me was the embodiment of hard work. Kobe wasn’t the biggest or the strongest nor could he jump the highest but one thing you knew was he’d out work his opponents. First one in the facility last one out and it showed on the court. He could hit any shot even with three people guarding him just like in the Christmas game against the Heat. Kobe was also a student of the game. He studied every part even to the extent of calling Michael Jordan at 2 and 3 in the morning asking him questions on what would go through his mind when taking certain shots or doing specific moves. Kobe to me shows that if you put in blood, sweat, and tears into it nothing is impossible. You can become the greatest as long as you put in the hours and master your craft. Mamba Mentality forever! – IzzyKicks
Having passion can provide a legacy. – Fresh Bucks
I didn’t play high school ball, I got cut, and didn’t play college but had the opportunity to go to the Philippines and play. I didn’t go because I went to start my career in nursing. Second only to my family, I have never put so much work into something that I was not required to do and only did out of my desire to be better. Kobe was my inspiration for so many early morning training days before the sun got up, so many weekends training instead of going out, my whole college experience was spent on the court even when I went and played intramural ball to travel and play other universities/colleges. Even until now, I still train with no leagues to play in, just to be better than I was the day before. Kobe taught me that through hard work you can overcome the toughest situations from a double team — and still knocking down jumpers — to real life situations. You can work things out. The love for the game was different because of him and my love for sneakers was born through his sneaker line, not MJ. My appreciation for MJ came through Kobe. He was to me what MJ was to most. ? I would trade my Jordan collections for Kobe’s in a heartbeat, no brainer. – Mambaskate
Kobe was a good dude. Just don’t ask for that ball and y’all will be fine. Trust me! Much luv. – Seasick904
In 41 years you achieved more than I will, or most people could in 10,000 years. When I think about what you had already accomplished post basketball, and would have accomplished in the next 50 years, and how you could have impacted the world? That’s what’s so sad. – Chris Salomone
Hard work, dedication, relentless pursuit of perfection. Never settle on your victories, use those as stepping stones to something bigger and better. – KB4ever24/8
My most memorable Kobe game, not a good one at the time as a Phoenix Suns fan, is when he hit the game winner in Game 4 of the 2006 Playoffs. While I rooted against the Lakers, I appreciated Kobe’s mindset and approach to his craft. This is a mindset that can and should be applied to people’s everyday lives. As a sneaker fan and player, my favorite model is the Nike Kobe 11 and my favorite sneaker in my collection is the Undefeated x Nike Kobe 4 Protro “Phoenix” colorway. – Darrell Mesa
Man, where do I start. Maybe it was when he crossed MJ, or maybe it was when he scored 60 in his final NBA game. Kobe made me want to pick up a basketball and was one of the reasons I even started playing. When I heard of his tragic death I was hurt and sad so I took to YouTube and started watching Dear Basketball and thus came the waterworks. But it wasn’t just Kobe’s love for the game that made me admire him, it was his pure respect for it, it was his “Mamba Mentality” that pushed me to be better and work harder. Kobe was a legend not just in basketball but in life. He gave so much to the game and was rewarded with five rings. The years he wore #8 he was a problem, but the years he wore #24 he was scary, no one could touch him. He paved the way for so many players and for that, he will forever be one of my favorites. Sleep well Kobe!!! – Sean Hembrick
The personification of what it means to be great. An inspiration to the core. A legend beyond the score. The mentality of a competitor on and off the floor. What Kobe means to me goes beyond a stat. A legacy! Impact! To me, Kobe is that! Mamba Forever ♾ – drsincere
There will likely never be another player who I follow as closely as I did Kobe. I’m a lifelong Lakers fan and his career spanned a time when I was still able to watch basketball religiously. I feel so fortunate that a generational talent, one of the best of all time, happened to play his entire career for my team and gave me some of the best basketball memories of all time. To see the ups and downs of his career — how he was vilified and then redeemed himself in the late stages of his career to the admiration he received at his retirement — is something that is inspiring. It’s a good reminder that it’s never too late to rewrite your story. Maybe I could’ve skipped saying all that and just said as a sign of everything he meant to me I even gave my son the name Kobe. #mambaforever – Sly
Fighter. He always knew that only you can control what happens to you. If you choose to give up then you chose to say it’s over. If you choose to fight then you won’t stop until you win! ?– DassKray
Kobe to me meant perseverance. No matter the situation, no matter the pressure, it’s all about how I can get through it to the best of my abilities. This in my opinion is what the Mamba Mentality was all about. It wasn’t about being clutch or being the best, it was about not giving up and continuing on! The past year has been mentally and emotionally hard for many with the pandemic where people’s lives have been turned upside down, including myself. When I feel myself getting down I channel that “Mamba Mentality” to pull myself back up. I know I will get through anything if I keep that thinking! Thank you for everything, Kobe. – Holycow
I spent most of my younger days hating Kobe. He had that personality where you just wanted to punch him in the face. It wasn’t until I was older that I appreciated Kobe for what he was: a fierce and unapologetic competitor that demanded you work as hard as he did. When we lost Kobe it drove a stake through my heart. Partly because of who he was and what he did for the basketball culture but for what he represented at the end of his life. I grew up with him and was blessed to have a little girl. He broke those gender barriers for his daughter that most dudes don’t know are there until it’s their daughter. His evolution from high school phenomenon to Hall of Fame baller to Academy Award winner to basketball savant contributor to legendary father left an imprint on all walks of life. – Mackmookie
The embodiment of a tireless work ethic and laser-like focus to achieve goals. – Henry Arthur
Kobe was dedication personified. Yes, he was blessed with God given skill and ability, but he was also the first one in the gym and the last me to leave. The passion that he played with, the hard work he put in and his commitment to being great is what gave me the motivation I needed to excel. Not just in sports, but all areas of my life. I was never the biggest, fastest, or strongest, but watching Kobe’s work ethic gave me the fuel and inspiration I needed to strive for greatness. He is truly missed. – TreFlash
If you read online somewhere that basketball is a religion in the Philippines – that’s romanticizing it, but I lived it as a kid. It’s good that the country is being recognized like that now, but in the 90’s? NOBODY EVER CAME TO THE PHILIPPINES!! That all changed in 1998, when a young Kobe Bryant visited the country. I believe it was his second year in the NBA, there was coverage everywhere he went. From riding a jeepney, dancing an ethnic dance – Tinikling – with one wrong move and your ankle is caught in between bamboo poles – and we all know how valuable those ankles are for an NBA player, to attending a televised PBA/basketball game and putting on an impromptu dunk show at halftime. As a young Filipino kid back then I was in awe at everything he did and, even though I was just watching from the TV, I was a fan of Kobe ever since. He visited the country more times since, and I sincerely felt that Kobe loved the Philippines, and in turn we Filipinos loved him back. Early memories of Kobe shoes I bought were the Adidas EQT Elevation in white/black and the Adidas Kobe 1 in black, and not having much money back then I balled on them until the soles came off. I also found out that Adidas soles get worn out super fast compared to Nike soles when played in cement floors. I bought a lot more Kobe gear over the years, some I gave away, but most I kept. Oh and by the way, I’m part of the SoleSavy beta but I joined a few days late. The reason why I got in was I bought a Kobe 1 Protro “Close Out” from DP and then asked him if I could join the beta. 🙂 The last memory I want to share was the birth of my son in Sept 2019. We named him Kobe. I always mocked people when they meet someone famous and they’re like, “I named my son/daughter after you” – always thought that’s BS and never thought that could happen to me. I thought I had time to meet him in person and I’ll be one of those people… until the following January. It still feels surreal, and sad, but you know what we still have a little Kobe that’s now running around the house and causing a ton of trouble. 🙂 I always tried but always failed on getting new Kobe shoes and gear since he passed. It didn’t really affect me that much, I’m just grateful that I kept most of the Kobe gear I bought during all those years he was still with us. That changed when I copped the Kobe 6 Grinch!! I took an L on those when it first dropped 10 years ago, and it’s my second grail Kobe shoe, second to Kobe 8 What The. – rage
Greatness with no fear to accomplish any goal you set! Mamba Mentality. – Whatzyoizm2
Hoops became my second love as a refugee since hockey equipment was too pricey. I grew up when Magic and Bird passed the torch to MJ and then high schoolers started jumping the NCAA for the pros. There was buzz about this Philly kid, the son of a former pro. I’d watch the news from Rochester and Detroit to try to see the high school up and comers. Once, they had a Lower Merion game on. I can’t remember if it was the state championship or not but this kid with the Japanese name clearly stood out. You didn’t need to be some sort of scouting genius to see that this skinny bald kid was gonna be special. I watched his game, copied his moves (or his versions of MJ’s moves) and then the rocket ship took off. It was amazing to see. He played hard, so fluid in his moves and had a killer instinct that just made you want to work to be a better player. I LOVED KOBE even though my team was the Heat at that time. This kid who spoke Italian, played the piano and had great post-game interviews seemed atypical to other stars at that time. Then the Colorado case happened, I read every court transcript. I was heart-broken. My admiration of him as a player didn’t change but morally It took me a few years to reconcile how I felt about him. Then in the later years, I became a dad and saw his obvious love and devotion to his family. I loved to see the retired dad coach mentoring his daughter and elite female players. His support to women’s hoops was wonderful to see. In a weird world where we think we know these folks, it seemed like he was doing as much he can to right that awful wrong. My two boys are into hoops and of course they know Kobe the player, I do plan to talk to them about the off-court transgression. When I found out he passed, I had just woken from a nap and my eldest son told me news was saying that Kobe and Gianna had died. I was groggy and just stood there stunned. The passing of celebrities never affects me, but I cried. The wall of emotion just came rushing over me. I was legit sad for two weeks and watched so many highlights. Kobe is someone that along with a few people that I attach to my teenage years where ball was life. For me, a ball and a hoop was my therapy. – Dominic
Growing up I was a Jordan fan and became a basketball fan because of him. I remember when Kobe came to the league and he reminded me so much of Jordan. I became a Kobe and Lakers fan from then on. Just like watching Jordan every game, I felt the same watching Kobe and the Lakers. It was like watching art and greatness. My first game I got to see Kobe live was when the Lakers traded for Pau and I believe it was against Miami. From then on, I went every year to Staples Center to watch Kobe live. As big as Kobe was, he was hated just as much. I always wore my Kobe jersey proudly and would get the hate which I loved. I remember going to Key Arena in Seattle to watch the Lakers against Ray Allen and the Sonics. Kobe took over in the fourth and willed his team for the win. I remember starting a MVP chant in Key Arena and the whole stadium started chanting with me. Watching the Lakers and Kobe is my fondest memory of growing up and my love of basketball would not be there without him. His swagger, attitude, and greatness is legendary. He actually passed away on my birthday last year and all my family and friends called and messaged me knowing how much he meant to me. I did not believe it as he was invincible to me. I will always wear my Kobe jersey proudly and celebrate him on my birthday going forward, but I know I have so many great memories of watching him live which I will always be grateful for. Mamba 4 Life!!!!! – RAMBO
As a kid, on any weekday at 7 P.M., we all ran onto the couch and turned on KCAL 9 to watch James Worthy give us the breakdown before the game and show us the amazing things Kobe will do at Staples Center. You would watch in amazement as Kobe would pull up to the left elbow, shimmy, pivot, fade away, and pull up with his signature jump-shot. You learned about the “Black Mamba” and incorporated that into the park when you pulled up and made sure to yell “Kobe!” when you pulled up from 30 feet – years before you heard about Curry. From number 8 to 24 and onto retirement, as Kobe aged, the mystic and idolization of what Kobe meant also grew. He also grew from being a competitor to being a coach – something I relate to every single day as a girls’ basketball coach. Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gigi, and the girls from Team Mamba exemplified that “Mamba Mentality” is not subjective towards a specific sport or gender. He showed that the “Mamba Mentality” is universal and that it is not just a cool saying, but a way of life. It showed to others the enjoyment of the grit and grind, the smiles you show when you are being pressured, and the thrill of competition. Kobe Bryant showed that while coaching a girls’ team when everyone was distraught that he didn’t have a son – something he never let faze him because he knew that “Mamba Mentality” would kick in when it needed to. Kobe means everything to the city of Los Angeles and the state of California – my home state – and in a way, he is California. However, Kobe was an inspiration and hope to all even in passing. He inspired me to initiate and love the “Mamba Mentality,” to accept it as a way of life and to smile through the darkness. Kobe once stated that Mamba Mentality is the most meaningful “when I see people talk about finding inspiration in it, it makes all of my hard work, all of the sweat, all of the 3 A.M. wakeups feel worth it.” I hope that through the grit and grind I undergo as a coach and as an individual allows him to look down and see how he has impacted not only my life but others’ lives in a meaningful way. – eddiejshin
Kobe wasn’t my favourite player nor was I the biggest fan. I actually hated him when he was still playing due to the fact that he was so good. I didn’t hate him as a person but as a player because he would always beat the team I was rooting for. No one can deny that he was one of the greatest but when he passed away, I started and everyone else started to see his off court self. He was an inspiration to many people and it made me realize how this life can be unpredictable. His passing pushed me to cherish every moment I have and not take anything for granted. Rest in peace, Mamba. – EVO
What does Kobe mean to me? Honestly where do I even begin? Some of my early memories are filled with Kobe and the Lakers and only being born right in the middle of a three-peat is to blame for that. But like everyone growing up with Kobe, you can’t just sit down and watch Kobe because with Kobe he wasn’t just a player you could just sit down and watch. Rather, he was like a magician who would have you wonder how did he make those shots or how did he just pull off that move. That’s how I felt when watching Kobe. He made me want to be Kobe. At first it started with his signature fade-away then later I realized what made Kobe Kobe was his work ethic and his dedication to improving himself to becoming the best version of himself. Kobe was the perfect example of hard work and dedication for me because when things seem hard and I would want to give up, I would stop and ask myself what would Kobe do. Not only was Kobe the person that I would look up to he was also something me and my dad could bond over. Because if not for Kobe, I wouldn’t have as many basketball related memories as I do with my dad from watching him go against MJ in the 2003 All-Star Game on VHS to me and dad celebrating finally beating Boston in 2010. But hands down my favorite memory of The Black Mamba was in 2016 when everyone besides me and my dad in the family was watching the Warriors win 72 games. There I was in the living room watching Kobe in my high top Kobe 10s, watching Kobe score 60. Just the atmosphere of that game was like I finally went to go see him play in person, which sadly is one thing I never got to see. But just the amazement of watching him hit shot after shot and seeing everyone in the crowd go crazy as 60 flashed across the screen and hearing those famous words, “Mamba Out.” It was amazing to grow up on Kobe as honestly he meant so much to me and my dad. – Micah Seamster
Not many had a drive or work ethic like Kobe. This man spent every waking moment trying to better himself. Seeing him evolve into the man he was until his untimely demise was nothing short of inspiring. – AC
Mamba has impacted my life in so many ways from him being my favourite basketball player to him also being a leader in everyday life. I remember growing up and my first experience was watching him get his fourth ring against Orlando in 2009. Ever since then, I have become a big fan. I played basketball growing up my whole life and everyday I would watch Kobe highlights on YouTube and mimic his fadeaways and footwork for hours. His work ethic, leadership, and wise words of advice still plays a big part in my life today. To say the least, he inspired me to keep pursuing basketball as I just finished my hoop career at my local college. In Kobe’s last year of his career, the All-Star Game was hosted in Toronto for the first time ever. Nike Basketball hosted a presentation with Kobe and my high school coach somehow got my team in — shoutout to him! Just getting that opportunity alone is something I wanted to share. Me and some of my best friends shared an experience that we will never forget in our lifetime. My first pair of Kobes were the Nike Zoom Kobe 5 “Miles Davis.” The Nike Kobe 8 is the best hoop shoe of all time. No debate. – Cs21
Kobe in short meant passion and drive. He will always be remembered by that but the last few years it was a pleasure to see how he turned these two things toward helping others. Seeing his passion toward teaching kids through his books and getting past their fears. Being a father of four — three girls — I loved seeing him driven to be a better husband and father. His drive to become better and push others has helped create a mantra that I live by every day. I will face my fears everyday and live a life that inspires greatness in others. – Josh B
I’ve been a basketball fan since I was maybe eight or nine years old, and even though MJ was the first player who I fell in love with and captured my imagination, Kobe was the one who I felt like I really grew up with. I went to high school five minutes away from Lower Merion, so I felt an extra connection to following him, even though most other kids were Sixers fans. I’ve had his sneakers dating all the way back to his Adidas days, and I probably own over 200 pairs of Kobes, from regular GRs to samples/PEs. I could tell a story about every single pair of those sneakers that I own, whether it’s something about the theme behind a colorway or a moment that I remember from watching Kobe play in them. As talented and as skilled as he was, I think the biggest lasting legacy I’ll always have from Kobe was that Mamba Mentality that he preached and embodied. How you should always strive to be the best possible version of yourself and do everything in your power to maximize what you have. He was a major inspiration for me and an example of the amazing things you can achieve if you truly dedicate yourself to something with your mind and heart. – RL
I grew up near Philly as did Kobe. We were one year apart in high school. He played ball for Lower Merion and I remember hearing about him in the papers, about how he was so good and maybe going straight to NBA. He played our high school in ball and dropped close to 60 on us, hitting 3s and doing windmills. The rest is history as they say. RIP Kobe. – Mike_Philly_215
I grew up watching Kobe. My dad painted my room yellow and somehow found purple carpet. I was rockin’ with Kobe since before the ‘fro. Kobe showed me that you could build a game through relentless hard work. I believed that if I woke up before the sun was up then I was ahead of the competition. I wanted to work while everyone was still sleeping. Side story: when he passed my mom and brothers called me to check on me. Of course I lied and said I was OK, but what was crazy is that my whole life my mom never had any interest in basketball. However, she still remembered that Kobe was my favorite. I thought that was dope. I can’t afford his shoes anymore at this point [laughs] but I got some dope ass memories to get me by. – Frank Daniels
Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant was my generation’s Michael Jordan. When I started getting into basketball, Michael Jordan was at the tail end of his career. When Kobe Bryant came in out of high school he took the NBA by storm. I grew up in a rural community in Northern Ontario and I remember being inspired by Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson‘s battle in the NBA finals. I would go out on my court and try to impersonate some of the moves Kobe had completed. Being a Raptor fan, I loved Vince Carter but I revered Kobe Bryant. I remember when Kobe went on his run of straight games with 40 and when he dropped 81 on the Raptors. It’s one of those few times I remember exactly where I was when that happened. I ended up playing university ball and always had to wear Adidas because of sponsorship. I ended up rolling with a yellow pair of the Crazy 8s because I loved him so much. Kobe’s low top ball shoes revolutionized the league and is now the most popular on court shoe in my opinion. When Kobe died a year ago I sobbed uncontrollably, I never really fully understood what he meant to me until he passed. Oftentimes that’s what happens when you lose someone who you admire. Kobe Bryant was my MJ and I will be forever grateful I witnessed his greatness. – Mitch M
With Michael Jordan being my childhood idol, I always had a love/hate relationship with Kobe. I resented him for the ‘Next Jordan’ comparisons, but over time I began to appreciate him as he carved his own identity. He wasn’t the next MJ, he was the first and only Kobe. Mamba forever. – PHo
If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail. “You have to dance beautifully in the box that you’re comfortable dancing in. My box was to be extremely ambitious within the sport of basketball. Your box is different than mine. Everybody has their own. It’s your job to try to perfect it and make it as beautiful of a canvas as you can make it. And if you have done that, then you have lived a successful life. You have lived with Mamba Mentality.” Quotes that will forever be engraved within me. I see Kobe as I see MJ. That insane work ethic to be the best version that they can be. We all have struggles in life and the way I see it, you either can just stay in your comfort zone or you push through and take on the journey and face all those struggles and be the best version of ourselves. We all have a purpose in this world and even if the progress is slow, we should still look at it as progress and that we’re one step closer to our goal in life whatever that might be. Some people may not like it but then again, haters don’t hate the good ones, they hate the GREAT ones. – fatkid11
As a 90’s kid, we all think we are Jordan heads, but when it came to stepping on the court, I always reached for Kobe. Kobes are correlated with performance and excellence, and he’s set the new standard for sneaker lines to come. – Anothersamchan
Up until about ten years ago, I wasn’t much of a Kobe Bryant fan. Not much at all. My basketball hero wore 23 for the Chicago Bulls and was the main reason I was a fan of basketball at all (along with the shoes….it’s gotta be the shoes). I remember Kobe’s draft year, I wanted him to be the lone wolf in the green room. He was coming out of high school and I thought no high school kid should be drafted first round, let alone a lottery pick. But he was drafted by Charlotte, and then quickly traded to the Lakers. A part of me wanted him to fail. Some brash kid trying to be the next MJ? Emulating his moves, emulating the way he spoke to the press? I never thought he would be at the same level as MJ. Even after he won three titles, it was all because of Shaq, Horry, Fisher and then Kobe. But about ten years ago, I was fortunate to be invited to a Leafs game through work. We had access to one of the Gondola suites at the Air Canada centre. We were only asked to leave the second row (three seats) for a special guest. It was the Leafs vs. the Habs, and it was the same night that Mats Sundin jersey was raised to the rafters. After the ceremony and the National Anthem, we were all settling into our seats. We left one row open as requested and about five minutes into the period came Kobe Bryant, a guest and a security guard. We were all in shock. Kobe didn’t say anything to anyone. He just watched the game and spoke to his people. After the first period ended, I was standing at the top of the steps (there’s about 5-6 steps down to get to the seats), and Kobe got up to leave. When he got to the top, I asked him if I could take a picture with him. He said he would come back to take the pic. His guests were also behind him so I figured that he wasn’t coming back. Second period started, and still no Kobe. Half way through the period, Kobe comes back with his guests. They sit down, speak to some people in the box beside ours, but no one is directly in our box. At the end of the period, I was standing at the top of the steps but this time I am not going to ask him. No way. This time, Kobe stopped and asked if I wanted to take that pic. I was humbled. Of course Kobe! He stayed and took pictures with everyone in our box. He spent time and spoke to everyone there. He couldn’t have been nicer. He signed some autographs for a few of the kids that were in our box, but made sure everyone was able to meet him. Unbelievable. I think back and think that if it was MJ in our box, would he have done the same? Part of me thinks that he wouldn’t have. My friend and I joked with him that we hoped he would drop 82 on the Raptors as they were playing the next day. Kobe laughed. After all I read and heard about Kobe being selfish, and not a team player? That all changed after meeting him. He was just as hungry and focused as Jordan…maybe just a little bit nicer. Since then, I did a total 180 of how I felt about Kobe. I appreciated his greatness, his talents on and off the court, and just what an overall amazing person that he was. I’m a father of three as well, and it hurts knowing that Kobe isn’t going to be around to see his kids grow up. He won’t be able to grow old with Vanessa. We won’t know how many more gifts he could have left us. RIP Bean! – Forever23
Kobe made a big impact on me at such a young age. I started watching him and the Lakers right after I moved to Los Angeles at the young age of 10 on December 11, 1999. It was a rough transition to say the least, but watching basketball helped ease the unfamiliarity of moving to a different country. I was drawn to Kobe because of his swagger and that sheer determination of doing whatever it takes to win a championship. As I grew older, I applied that Mamba Mentality in my career and personal life. I would outwork my co-workers, being the first person in and last person out. Sometimes it gets me in the doghouse with my wife but she understands that I take my profession seriously. Kobe’s impact is felt worldwide. I never cried so hard for someone I never met personally. I am writing this with a heavy heart on the eve of Kobe’s death. He is no longer here with us but his spirit and soul lives on. – Gee Pineda
I remember them calling Jerry West crazy for moving on from All-Star caliber players for a kid. Remember that kid becomes the GOAT. I remember two decades of celebrations — on and off the court. I remember the release of the adidas Crazy 8 (aka KB8) and that sneaker being the first I would beg my mom for. I remember growing up without a father and Kobe impacting my life as a male figure. I remember the pride I felt being called a girl dad with having three daughters of my own and possibly a fourth on the way. I remember Kobe Bean Bryant. – Cell
Growing up in LA a lifelong Laker fan, you take on the persona of the city. We’re cool, laid back and easy going but we’re grindin’ everyday, proud to rep our city with a heart of a champion. We expect that out of our sports teams, too. No athlete has represented us as a city more than Kobe Bean Bryant. He showed us how to win at all costs, he showed us determination, the drive, that Mamba Mentality. Later on, he showed us how to mentor the next generation and how to be that much of a better man and parent. Kobe means so much more than just my favorite player on my favorite team, he exemplifies our city and what I aspire to be as a man and father. Just be a better version of yourself than the day before. Rest easy, Kobe and Gigi. – BooBooJeffrz
Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Kobe is the true definition of perseverance and dedication to achieve an end goal of being the best version of yourself. Being the best leader possible and showing that through hard work you can excel and grow as a human. His approach to life, family, and basketball has helped me overcome fears and helped me through some of the toughest moments of my life. Mamba Mentality forever. RIP 24. – Rizz
Kobe Bean Bryant in my lifetime was one of the most respected, influential big brothers from afar type guys to me. I would joke with my wife that certain athletes were in my so-called club of “Kobe Nation.” The list of athletes that I would label as involved with Kobe Nation would range from athletics of all types. The list of athletes I created in my head we’re 15 to 20 male and female athletes in all sports that showed the same determination that he had or close to it. We all know there was only one Kobe though. His influence made athletes level up. Every time I watched an athlete I coined as in Kobe Nation I would think of Kobe’s influence. To be in Kobe Nation you had to have the relentless attitude, swagger, confidence, and demeanor of a psychopath with an obsessive addiction to master your craft. Think of the many greats that we have seen that were influenced by Kobe. I wanted to be a part of him so badly that I obsessively found myself trying to be great at whatever was put in front of me. To watch Kobe play the game as fluid and effortless was amazing and motivated me to find a way to use that same attitude towards life. As I had my shot at the collegiate level in football, an injury sidelined me which later made me step away from the game which was extremely difficult to say the least. Once I stepped away from college football, 9/11 rocked our country and I had no choice but to take that same determination to serve my country in the US Army. His influence was there with me before and more so after I served my country. Watching Kobe play was a stress reliever for me. He knew how to take control and conquer his opponents mentally and never backed down to take the last shot. I wanted that. He wanted that spotlight and to a fan it was so much fun to watch. Kobe’s passing hurt me to the core. I found myself tearing up as if I lost my big brother for weeks on end. Though I’ve never physically met Kobe I can say that I knew him through his teachings and never ending pursuit of perfection. Rest in peace, Kobe. We love you and miss you. Most of all thank you for influencing millions of people. Kobe for me was the first male figure in my life to show me what it’s like to be great. Now I can pass that same information and level of greatness on to my son who I pray one day makes the Kobe Nation roster. – Dbshakers
I’m going to keep it short and sweet. Nothing about Mamba Mentality and all that, when I think of basketball I think of one, Michael Jordan obviously and two, Kobe Bryant. Those whose names you can mention to anyone in any language and they know, Okay yes, basketball. They embody what a basketball player is and was meant to be talent driven, hard working, spectacular and they just left their mark and everlasting impression on the world, in your heart and to the game of basketball. Michael Jordan’s name has dominated basketball. When you think basketball, your brain automatically pairs it with a jumping logo and the Bulls, but also Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. The NBA really should make the logo of Kobe. He has had such a monumental impact on the game, not just with his skills and records, but with the community and relationships throughout the league, fans, kids and the world. THE END. – Mr.jordan 5
I grew up in an era of watching Jordan and Iverson in their prime. Since I was young I always played basketball. AAU, middle school, pick up games, it didn’t matter, I just enjoyed playing basketball. I never really practiced and basketball came pretty easy to me, or so I thought. Now I am and always have been a Lakers fan. In 1996, the Lakers drafted a young Kobe Bryant and I was in 8th grade going into 9th. After watching Kobe play I fell in love with the way Kobe Bryant looked at the game of basketball. I saw a young Kobe with determination in his eyes. He knew most of the NBA players felt he was too young and didn’t belong, but Kobe knew he was exactly where he belonged and was going to show the world the same thing. My 9th grade year, 1997, I was cut and did not make my basketball team. I came to high school with a name already for basketball, and the coach knew who I was as did other high schools in the area. They all saw me play but I did not make the team. After confronting the basketball coach on why, I was told I wasn’t ready for high school basketball. I came home pissed. That same week I watched an interview with Kobe on how he practiced, the mentality he played with and how he thought of himself as a player. He checked off every box that described myself. Listening to his practice regime — something I never did as I was always at or above the best competition in my area and felt I didn’t need it — Kobe changed that. I realized to make me a better player I have to hit the courts alone and practice. I would stay out at the courts until it became so dark I couldn’t see anymore and was forced home. Then I would watch the Lakers game, find new things to work on like Kobe’s fade away and becoming more aggressive going to the rim. I became obsessed with Kobe. Kobe became my favorite athlete. Not favorite football or basketball or soccer player. No. He was my favorite athlete, period. I went on to making my high school basketball team in 10th grade and was immediately upgraded to the varsity team. By the first game of the season I was a starter, starting over seniors. I have always thanked Kobe for that interview as it changed my life. By the beginning of junior year my parents started handing me more mail then they were getting. They were all letters of intent. I continued watching and idolizing Kobe, but not as just a player anymore. I began learning about Kobe as a man. I made bad decisions in my younger days and lost all my scholarships and dropped out of school, but I always watched Kobe his whole 20 year career. I can honestly say I might have missed 20 games total over his whole career. I mowed yards to get the NBA pass while still in high school, but I eventually idolized Kobe as a player, man, son, husband and father. So what did Kobe mean to me? He meant everything to me. His words taught me valuable lessons in life, he was always real, never cared what others thought, always had a chip on his shoulder. If he wanted to do something he didn’t stop until he did it. What irritates me is everyone always pushed him to the side. NBA greats? Kobe was always at the bottom of that list. Kobe shoes? Nobody bought them. It went from MJ being the best player ever to LeBron with Kobe completely passed over. But last January after Kobe’s death, he finally got the recognition he deserved. He never got to see it. He played 20 years in the league and instead of being praised by most he was called a villain by most until his passing. That part I find sad. He was always the best athlete in my eyes and is greatly missed. Thank you, Kobe. – Caine24
Being from Philly and me being a Kobe fan, there was a love/hate relationship. With him being from Lower Merion, he wasn’t really considered a Philly star earlier in his career. He was always super nice and had that killer instinct and toughness of a Philly guy but he was Lower Merion. And then to get drafted by the Lakers he definitely was on the other side. Him coming back to play the Sixers he definitely didn’t show no mercy. You could feel that he wanted to kill them, especially during the 2001 Finals. That was the height of the Kobe hate, he definitely took our hearts out. During the years after and especially when he retired, I started to really appreciate him as a Philly guy: his heart, his toughness. Even though he played his whole career in LA, you can tell he was from the Philly area. Seeing him embrace Philly more once he retired — especially during the Eagles Super Bowl season — really made me love him more. His and his daughter’s tragic death really made me start appreciating him and his career more as a Philly Guy. – Aunzj82
He’s my MJ. My older brother would tell me about Jordan’s game: his physicality, his dominant on the court character. With Kobe, my hero wasn’t MJ — it was the Black Mamba. I could witness Kobe’s incredible talent for myself as his game began to transform into the legacy we remember today. In conclusion: you wasn’t with me shooting in the gym. – KJWILLEST90
Dedication and day by day routines breed greatness and success in any and everything you do. Be a student, be a leader, be a executer, be different, be a serious to your craft and be a legend. – Alex_
Kobe meant waking your dad up at midnight as a kid during the NBA Finals. He represented a relentless mentality that helped me push through three ACL surgeries to eventually walk on to a college basketball team. He taught us how to be lethal in pursuit not only on the court but off it. He taught us that you can be so much more than your job title. He taught us what growth looked like. They say you can’t teach heart in a player but I believe he taught us that too. “Heroes get remembered, legends never die.” Forever missed, Kobe. – Jeffrey Halls
The only way to be the best is putting in constant work, making sacrifices and giving it your all despite all roadblocks. Having witnessed greatness growing up, Kobe has literally exemplified Mamba Mentality as a way of life. – neanic
Kobe was the reason I played basketball. We were coached by the same AAU coach and having his name pop up made me prideful to be able to play. To this day, I will only play in Kobes. – Eric Kenny
Kobe’s outlook on life and his desire for more is what I admired most! As a fan, I even stayed up after 1 AM EST and watched every televised game in college just to get a glimpse into his greatness and post game reflections. One of my most cherished memories of him was the first and last time I’d get to see him play. After he announced what would be his final season, I called all of my friends in different NBA cities to see if I could stay at their spot just to see him play. Luckily, that came through in Milwaukee, WI on 2/22/2016. A day after my 26th birthday, I finally got to see Bean play! I’ll never forget it, from watching him warm up to tuning out the crowd at the free throw line. My virtual love for Kobe grew even stronger after seeing him play in person. Rest in Paradise, Mamba. – KaMar
