ou existed as one of the greatest athletes to
play the game of basketball to inspire a gener-
ation. The legacy you leave behind will ensue
those not yet born will know your name.
You undoubtedly impacted the world. I remember
watching one of your past interviews where you de-
scribed marriage as a beautiful journey because of its
ups and downs. I liken your ‘traveler’ thoughts to the
lives given to us knowing no one is perfect, but we can
practice becoming better at what we say or do, and
speaking of practice, it is a word you kept close to your
heart. The concept of repetitiveness was a special love,
an inseparable bond for the sport you gave your all. You
walked, ran, and faced challenges through the use of
your mindset, physical capabilities, and spirit to win.
The world was in shock upon hearing the news you
were no longer with us. Though death is inevitable,
many of us imagine certain people will be here forever.
No one expected you to be gone so soon, and in the
manner, it happened. You were supposed to go to your
daughter’s, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant’s game, and come
back home and share Instagram pics with the captions
of how much better she and her teammates were in
ameliorating their game.
You, your daughter, and the seven other beautiful souls
on board the helicopter were all supposed to come
back home and carry on with your lives. I imagine your
precious wife, Vanessa would have kissed you as you
walked through the front door, and Gigi would have
told her about who she did a fade away on and how
many points she scored. Your other daughters Nata-
lia, Bianka, and Capri there to welcome their ‘Girldad,’
and sister as well. It doesn’t seem right that the vibrant
family photos we saw over the Christmas holidays no
longer include two of its members. Your second act was
to be phenomenal. It was already off to a lightning speed
start. Who in the NBA leaves the Staples Center stage
in exchange for the Academy of Arts and Sciences stage
holding the coveted award an Oscar? The honor was in
the making for you to receive it back when you lined up
the chairs in your home PRACTICING your craft. You
deserved it. You perfected your skills, in the same man-
ner, as a future thespian performed in every school play.
And we got to know you better because of the woman you
dedicated your love to for over twenty years. Kobe, she’s
strong. Like myself and others, we didn’t know her too
well from a distance. All we knew is she had your heart,
and you had hers.
We were immediately concerned about her on January
26. How and, Why? It was inconceivable how a wife loses
her husband and child the same day. I hoped that she was
around family hearing the dreaded news and that some-
one there hugged her tightly as she blinked to see if she
was not asleep and having a nightmare because when the
truth set in she would have to tell her surviving girls their
daddy and sister were not coming back home. We wanted
to know if she was okay not in a nosey way, but because
many of us have spouses and children of our own. She’s
been gracious with us in sharing updates and memories
of you and Gigi. We now understand more why you loved
her the way you did. Vanessa could have very well only
had a private funeral, but she knew you belonged to the
world too. You were a family man, husband, father, son,
and brother, five-time NBA champion, Oscar winner, au-
thor, friend, and more. Your lovely wife (soulmate) knew
others wanted to celebrate your life.
Dea KOBE
r
6 | BSM MAGAZINE | APRIL 2020