The NBA world has lost a lot of legends in recent years, with some of the greatest to ever do it passing away. But no player’s passing was as unexpected as when Kobe Bryant tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash in 2020. Bryant was brilliant in every way on the basketball court, but even his legacy off the floor was that of a person that continually strived to improve themselves and help those around him.
The NBA community remembers and honors Kobe at every opportunity, with many telling stories of how he inspired them. The superstars of today, like Jayson Tatum, have kept his memory alive by paying tribute to him on the biggest stages. And even now, people discuss their fond memories of Kobe Bryant and the joy that he brought to them. In a recent podcast episode, Stephen A. Smith told the story of the last time he saw Kobe Bryant.
Stephen A. Smith on an unforgettable moment in his career:
“Kobe Bryant & I saw each other 3 weeks before he died… We were at a party… We kept hugging each other for like 15 min… What I remember about that night is I had never seen him that happy ever in all the years that I… pic.twitter.com/HjlEprAx11
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 13, 2023
“Kobe Bryant & I saw each other 3 weeks before he died… We were at a party… We kept hugging each other for like 15 min… What I remember about that night is I had never seen him that happy ever in all the years that I knew him.”
What makes Kobe’s passing that much harder to swallow is that most people in the basketball world were aware of how excited he was about the next chapter of his life. Kobe Bryant’s pursuit of greatness didn’t end with his retirement, and for the world to be robbed of seeing what else he could have achieved in his life is quite saddening. And Stephen A. Smith isn’t the only one to have shared a lovely Kobe story.
Gary Payton Recently Shared A Beautiful Kobe Bryant Story
It’s a testament to how great he was that Kobe Bryant is still spoken about almost daily across NBA circles. And Gary Payton, who played against him and alongside him, recently shared how Kobe’s personality, even as a youngster touched him.
“Kobe didn’t have a fear of nothing to ask nobody to get better. So he came by me and he was like, ‘Big bro man, you be doing this and that and that. I wanna learn this man. I really wanna learn it because of you.’ And when he said that, that took something out of me. It took something in my heart that a kid with his ability, knowing where he was going, wants to really learn and he doesn’t have an ego.”
Kobe Bryant will never be forgotten, and everyone whose lives were tragically cut short in that accident, including his daughter Gianna will never be forgotten either. But remembering the good times is one of the best ways that lovers of basketball can pay tribute to his story and his legacy.
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