I’ve now had a day to process the news of Kobe’s passing. It’s still unreal. For a long time I thought of Kobe as an imaginary rival. It feels like I’ve always “competed” with him, maybe because I felt we shared strong similarities. We both grew up just outside of Philly at the same time. Kobe is 4 months older, but was a year ahead of me in high school. Like him, I dreamed of being a star recruit, playing in front of coaches who would one day recruit me out of small town New Jersey and down to the ACC. And like his, my biological father’s last name is Bryant, so in some tucked away part of my subconscious, I thought there was a chance we were distant relatives.
But I loved hoops and religiously studied the high school game. Every year, I’d tape the McDonalds All American game, memorize the Street & Smiths high school player rankings, and dream of being on those lists. I wanted to be the #1 High School player in the country and at 13, thought with hard work, it might be attainable. So I worked.
About a year later, I started hearing about but this kid on the other side of Philly who was starting to make noise. He was tall, athletic, handsome, intelligent, global and was considered the best player in his high school class. He represented everything I self identified with and more. He was actually THE guy. The local news routinely reported his high school games. He took Brandy to his prom. I hated him.
I subconsciously vowed to never let him take the crown from MJ as the best player of all time. I would dock him for biting MJ’s style, thinking he was unoriginal. “He even took MJ’s coach!” I would often argue. While that all may be true, many before Kobe were deemed to be “baby Jordan”. None of them become the champion, sports icon, and legend that Kobe became. He mirrored Jordan so close that he became him and in the process developed a will to win that was unmatched. Unlike the others, Kobe was willing to do the work.
We all remember the highlights and there were many. Surprisingly, many current and ex-players say that separated Kobe was his mastery of the fundamentals. His footwork was impeccable. He continued to add skills and evolve his game every season. His mentality had a character of its own. And now he is gone.
In his death he continues to teach us how to live, showing us how precious is the time we have here. The warm blanket of envy that I long wore for Kobe is now gone. And I am exposed.
Twenty five years after being introduced to Kobe Bryant, I can no longer say that he is who I would have been had I given the same effort. Now, I can use what taught me and the example he set, to join him as one of the best of our generation.
