For over 20 years, the Black Mamba experienced all the ups and downs and was the player who came closest to Michael Jordan in his style. Bryant polarized like no other, but no one doubts his legacy.
In January 2020, it wasn’t just the basketball world that stood still when it was announced that Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other passengers died in a helicopter crash. The NBA lost one of its greatest faces at just 41 years old.
For over 20 years, Bryant played hardball for the Los Angeles Lakers, won five championships, was named MVP, scored 81 points in a game and shaped the post-Jordan era like no other.
In terms of his style of play, Bryant was the Jordan after Jordan, an aloof, polarizing person. There are arguments that Kobe was never the best player in the NBA during his years, but there are just as many arguments against it.
Kobe was bigger than basketball, and together with Shaquille O’Neal he brought glamor to the league when it was desperately looking for new faces after Jordan’s retirement and the image-damaging lockout.
This article was first published in 2021 and has now been republished.
