Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, and Others to Pay Tribute to Kobe Bryant During Australian Open 2021

Kobe Bryant was a transcendental athlete, and his sporting interests expanded beyond the confines of the basketball court. The Los Angeles Lakers legend had a passion for every sport that he learned, and tennis occupied a huge place in his heart. 

The 5-time NBA champion took up retirement in 2016 and then considered picking up tennis as his next primary sport owing to its qualities.

Furthermore, Kobe Bryant shared a wonderful relationship with several stars on the ATP tour, including Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, and Roger Federer. 

The tennis community honoring the life and legacy of Kobe Bryant through a short documentary

When one talks about the legacy of Kobe Bryant, they should take it up beyond basketball. Kobe was a great athlete, and great athletes leave a mark on more than just their sport. The legendary shooting guard was an influential figure off-the-court as well, and a lot of it is being cherished. 

Tennis Channel TV Network has crafted a touching short documentary that details the impact that Kobe Bryant left behind on the tennis community. Several players appear in the documentary to share their memories and honor Kobe for the lessons that he’s imparted as a human being.

There are some snippets as to what some of the athletes said, and here’s Nick Kyrgios’ tribute to Kobe: “When someone who is talented and works as hard as that, he’s gonna leave a mark on every sport.” 

Moreover, Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka’s words of respect are also portrayed in the trailer, and the documentary will contain extensive clips that honor the NBA legend. 

Kobe expressed his love for tennis through a beautiful creation

Kobe Bryant certainly loved tennis, and his major interest developed because competitors were out on the court and left to make decisions on their own. It is such an instinctive game, and Kobe wrote a fantasy novel based on the sport. 

The ‘Legacy and the Queen’ talks about a 12-year-old girl who has an immense love for tennis and attempts to win a tournament for emotional reasons. It is a wonderful book, and Kobe’s daughters inspired him to create the novel during his final year in the NBA.

“I wanted to take something that had a fantasy appeal to it and connect that to sports,” Kobe mentioned. “Tennis has those qualities, those challenges.

“If I’m trying to teach [my daughters] how to navigate through society as they get older, what are some sports that can really teach them?”

Hence, the Lakers icon had great reverence for the sport and followed it extensively. Kobe was also a huge fan of Naomi Osaka and frequently graced the US Open with his presence! 

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