“It Would Be a Serious Disservice to Limit This to a Race Issue”: Going Against Past Stances on Social Issues, Kobe Bryant Once Went Public in Expressing His Agony

Kobe Bryant had always been an icon ever since he made his mark on the NBA. Kobe was an icon not only on the court but also off it. His influence on the world was supremely substantial. Not only for his community, but people all over the world. However, Kobe was not someone who would speak out on political or social issues. His cultural impact was pretty much confined to what he did. But other than that, Kobe was apolitical.

So it was even more surprising for people to witness Kobe Bryant go back on his own stance and express agony for a disastrous event. He, along with his Lakers teammates, wore t-shirts with “I can’t breathe” written on them in order to support the movement aimed at bringing justice for George Floyd. The “Black Lives Matter” movement was widespread and NBA stars had supported it in many ways, those t-shirts being one.

“I think it would be a serious disservice to limit this to a race issue. It’s a justice issue,” said Bryant after the game.

“You’re kind of seeing a tipping point right now, in terms of social issues. It’s become at the forefront right now as opposed to being a local issue,” Kobe continued.

WATCH THIS STORY: 5 lessons to learn from Kobe’s Mamba mentality.

“It’s really something that has carried over and spilled into the mainstream, so when you turn on the TV and you watch the news or you follow things on social media, you don’t just see African Americans out there protesting,” he concluded.

Impact of Kobe Bryant on ‘Black Lives Matter’

Kobe’s apolitical attitude reflected the individual-focused, Jordan-era status quo in which he entered the league, but it eventually made him out of step with his younger counterparts. But when the tragedy of George Floyd struck, Kobe just had to take a stand. Most celebrities, stars, and NBA players supported the movement. And Kobe was at the forefront of it. 

“I think it’s us supporting that movement and supporting each other,” Kobe said. “The beauty of our country lies in its democracy — It’s become a global thing. It’s become a thing where people are really standing up for their rights and really questioning the justice system — That’s what our nation is founded on.” Kobe’s words struck gold. The movement had already gained momentum and Kobe made it even bigger.

ALSO READ: “Something We Should All Stand For”: What Kobe Bryant Thought of Colin Kaepernick and Him Taking the Knee in NFL

Kobe’s impact was second to none. His impact on the court and off it was immensely crucial. When he made his debut in 1996, not everyone regarded him as the next big thing. In fact, when the Charlotte Hornets drafted him, they did not realize his value at the time. However, Jerry West at Lakers did, and the rest is history.