When Michael Jordan faded away from the scene of National Basketball Association (NBA), the fans were dejected, but the strength and beauty of American sport system did not let them wait for long and another star was born soon — by the name of Kobe Bryant.

Kobe ruled the NBA courts from 1996 to 2015. Kobe was not just a six-feet, six inches super-fit athlete, he was also a very intelligent, and down-to-earth person, who was highly respected by his teammates, friends and opponents.

Kobe on his retirement from professional basketball wrote a poem that reflects his beautiful mind and his passion for the great game, for which he lived and eventually died on the 26th of January in a helicopter crash, at the age of 41 years in Calabasas cliff alongwith his 13 years old daughter Gianna. Kobe wrote:

Dear Basketball,

I fell in love with you.

A love so deep I gave you my all –

From my mind & body

To my spirit & soul.

And so I ran

I ran up and down every court

After every loose ball for you

You asked for my hustle

I gave you my heart

Because it came with so much more.

My heart can take the pounding

My mind can handle the grind

But my body knows it’s time to say GOODBYE.

Kobe was a magnificent athlete, who lived and died for the game. He was on his way to Mamba Academy to coach his daughter and other young kids. His mission in life was to produce another generation of great basketball players who can serve the game in decades to come. A darling of many hearts, Kobe was the Dianna of Basketball.

The famous 24 of the Lakers was born on 23rd August 1978. Father of four daughters, he was one of the greatest basketball player the game ever saw alongwith Karim Abdul Jabbar, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Shaquile O Neil, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

It’s perhaps the first time that three American Presidents — Donald Trump, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton — expressed their grief over the death of an athlete. President Barack Obama, a noted basketball fan, tweeted: “Bryant was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act.”

Kobe was a role model for the youth. His impact both on and off the court was tremendous. Shakeel O Neil and Karim Abdul Jabbar paid rich tributes to Kobe. Karim said: “It’s hard to understand how we lost him.”

Shakeel O Neil said: “He was a killer on the court.”

Drafted directly to NBA from high school in 1996, Kobe was named an All Star in 18 of his 20 seasons for the Lakers and helped the team win five championships. He won NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in 2009 and 2010. He scored 81 points in a game in 2006 to become the second highest single-game scorer in NBA history.

An outstanding point guard, Kobe had a footwork of a dancer, and explosiveness of a tiger. A complete defensive and offensive player, Kobe used to steal loose balls from opponents and distribute them with exceptional accuracy. His lay-ups, assists and three-point shoot were flawless. A complete player with great fundamental skills, Kobe was an embodiment of a true professional athlete.

He won gold medals for USA Basketball team in 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.

Kobe was signed by Nike for 40 million dollars in 2003. Athletes from all sports, including Tiger Woods, NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Lamar Jackson, and his teammates Le Bron James and Shakeel O Neil were simply devastated by his death.

Kobe was not just a great basketball pro. He also had a vision to promote basketball among the youth.

Unlike our retired sportsmen who only want to be associated with federations and sports bodies as top officials, Kobe only wanted to serve the game and youth that associated him with Mamba Academy.

Kobe Bryant is no more, but his mission will continue to thrive and basketball fans will always remember him as one of the greatest basketball players.

sdfsports@gmail.com