The Black Mamba: A tribute to Kobe Bryant

The 26th of January 2020, a dark day in the history of the NBA, is the day that Kobe Bryant and his daughter unfortunately passed away. But who was Kobe Bean Bryant and what makes him such a legend? 6 years since his passing, we remember the Black Mamba.

(Image credits to BBC/Getty Images)

His career

Kobe was drafted out of High School in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets. However, his career as a Hornet only lasted for 2 weeks. He was traded to Los Angeles and would spend his 20-year-long career there. He received many accolades and is a 5-time champion. His other titles include being an Olympian, a MVP, an 18x All-Star, a 2x finals MVP and having made multiple All-NBA first teams and All-Defensive first teams. Needless to say he was a true legend, admired for his insane scoring ability. Kobe was unmatched in scoring for 4 of his 20 seasons. He played his last game in 2016, but never fully left the NBA until his passing.

The Mamba Mentality

Although Kobe has many accomplishments, that might not be the thing that makes him such a role model for many basketball fans and players alike. His Mamba mentality and influence on the game have made him unforgettable. When practice started at 8 he would be there at 6, if others woke up at 6 he woke up at 5. Even though many admire him for this, it did create some tension in his life and career, many found him pushy or cocky, but he never let that faze him. His mentality has inspired many people, like Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was once invited to train with Kobe and arrived 3 hours early so he could prove that he was committed to winning his first championship.

The legacy

Kobe left more than a simple mark, he left a legacy. Both of his Jersey numbers have been retired at the Lakers and are displayed in the bannisters, he has multiple statues and an entire championship dedicated to him. People don’t say Kobe when they shoot just because, they say it because he is one of the biggest role models for people who play the sport. He is considered to have left a huge impact on the way we play basketball and the 2nd best shooting guard behind Michael Jordan.

So 10 years since he last played and 6 years since his passing we remember Kobe Bean Bryant.

Article by Norah d’Hont ©Norah d’Hont 2026