Losing Kobe

The man. The legend. Two words to describe Kobe Bryant. But how does one transition from the former to the latter? How does one leave a legacy behind?

A lot of times when someone dies young people cry because there was more life to be lived. People inherently know that a person has a lot more left to do. This is definitely the case with Kobe Bryant. He had more left to do in his life and the world knows it. And the hardest part is that we all knew that the “what’s left to do” for Kobe was going to be epic. Because when you are great, in the full embodied sense of the word, everything you touch and do is great.

William Shakespeare said, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” For Kobe, he was all three. Greatness is just who he was. And so, losing Kobe also meant losing greatness in the world. It shows us that even men who seem like gods, are in fact, just mere mortals.

Kobe, I never knew you personally, but I knew of your greatness. Growing up watching basketball with my dad and brother, I witnessed you and your greatness. I always thought you were invincible. My family sat in awe as we saw you grace the NBA stage. We saw your fierce determination and spirit of a warrior; the definition of hard work, showing others that it was possible to be the best. You never apologized for who you were, but rather made sure that who you were, was great. It is heartbreaking to think that this world will never be blessed again with your presence. I honor and acknowledge you for your greatness and for everything you did for the game. The NBA is better as a result of who you were and what you did. I know I’m not alone feeling the depth of this loss.

I may not have known you personally, but you have truly affected me and helped me to believe that dreams were possible. My adolescence was shaped watching your greatness and I can’t believe you’re gone. I send so much love to those who knew you personally and for those whose lives you touched as a result of being authentically you.

The world cries not just because we lost a legend and an icon, but because we know that we will never see what he could have done in the third and fourth quarters of his life. Unfortunately his halftime was actually the final score, to which naturally, he won. He’s left a legacy through his family, through his charity, through his memory, and through all the younger players he inspired just by being him. We are watching the generation that studied Kobe and learned how to play like him, he changed the world of basketball and gave kids hope that they can be something more than what life gives them. He taught kids that if you work hard enough, you can overcome and be or do anything.

A man’s life consists of ups and downs, mistakes, lessons learned, and despite what it seemed like at times, Kobe was always more man than god. While he was idolized, he was not perfect. However, the true testament of who he was was seen as he continued to fight and be great despite the noise. He knew he was talented but he didn’t take that for granted. Not everyone liked Kobe, but he worked for what he earned and that’s why everyone respected him as an athlete.

We didn’t just lose Kobe, we lost the hope that he provided. The knowledge that someone was out there giving everything he had to life was comforting because it taught us that it was possible, that dreams really can come true. Kobe was proof of what everyone wants to believe in themselves, that greatness lies inside.

What lessons can be gleaned from this tragic loss? To know that even legends die. That waiting for halftime to turn the game around may be too late. So start now, in the first or second quarter. Open your heart to love, quit that job you hate, write that book, or start that family. Stop waiting to live your life. Go hard in the paint every second you’re alive and still in the ball game, just like Kobe would.