Kobe was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father Joe Bryant, was a 76er’s player and pushed Kobe to succeed in basketball. As a high school freshman, Kobe played on his school’s varsity team (the first freshman in his school’s history to do so). In high school, Kobe started to be recognised on a national level.

In 1996 Bryant graduates high school and went straight to the NBA. He was the 13th pick for the Charlotte Hornets, but shortly after, he was traded to the Lakers. In his second season, he became the youngest all-star in NBA history. By the time he was 23 he had won three NBA championships in a row. Outside of the NBA, Kobe was also a member of the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as the 2012 London Olympics. He also wrote the poem “Dear Basketball” which turned into a short film that won an academy award. In 2016, Kobe retired and spent more time with his wife and daughters.

As a community, CdM was greatly impacted by Kobe’s death. A freshman Basketball player, Andre Omaraz, said “It’s sad, I was a fan for sure.” He describes meeting Kobe as, “Surreal, just like meeting any celebrity, but he was really nice and down to Earth.” Sitting next to him, Harmony Calata, also a freshman, added “He was really talented and he was confident, but he still didn’t brag or anything, he had humility.” Another student, Braiden Borland said “He was just such a big basketball player, he was like an icon. It didn’t feel real, when I heard about it, it’s just so sad. He was one of the best players, and it just came out of nowhere.”

Although people come and go, legends are forever. Kobe Bryant’s legacy and accomplishments will live on.