
via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 – Lakers guard Kobe Bryant listens as the National Anthem is sung by Jeffey Osborne at the season opener against the Rockets at Staples Center. (Photo by Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 – Lakers guard Kobe Bryant listens as the National Anthem is sung by Jeffey Osborne at the season opener against the Rockets at Staples Center. (Photo by Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The tragic passing of Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, and nine others in a tragic helicopter in 2020 took the world by storm. The students over at the Mamba Academy, set up in 2018, were dealt a huge blow as they lost some of their teammates and also their coach in the unfortunate crash. However, three years after the tragedy, the students of the Los Angeles Lakers legend are still going strong.
In a recently released interview of the coaches and students at the Mamba Academy, some students shared their experiences of working with Bryant. Moreover, they also shared a powerful message which will resonate with any Kobe Bryant fan.
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Students of Kobe Bryant share a powerful message showcasing their undying spirit
Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant was one of the most disciplined athletes ever. Naturally, he instilled some of his qualities in his students. The Los Angeles Lakers legend set up the Mamba Academy in 2018, along with Chris Faulkner.
The Mamba hosted training sessions for his daughter’s AAU teams, while also catering to the needs of NBA and WNBA stars. The helicopter crash on January 26th, 2020 took away the lives of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, her teammates, and their parents, along with one of their coaches.

via Imago
Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks at Staples Center on November 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
As a result, the students and the coaches at the training facility were dealt a huge blow. However, they are nowhere close to slowing down. The people over at The Mamba Academy are committed to keeping Bryant’s legacy alive while also chasing their personal goals.
One of the students coached by Kobe Bryant said to the Washington Post, “You know, these Mamba girls aren’t finished. We still have many goals we wanna attain but we want people to think that through all the tough times and adversity, we still stick together.”
Currently, the girls are trained by Coach Brenan Ghassemieh who worked with Bryant briefly before his tragic death. Bryant’s students are on their way to college and with the guidance they have received in the past, they can make it big in the sport.
Bryant instilled the Mamba Mentality in his students from a young age
Kobe Bryant and his Mamba Mentality inspired thousands of young athletes around the world. Safe to say, he guided his young students well, as they still remember some of the lessons taught in their childhood.
One of the students said, “I think our commitment…we all grew up doing it so its natural for us to always want to work more.” During his time in the league, Bryant was known for going the extra mile.
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There have been numerous stories from various NBA stars that give us an idea behind some of Kobe’s work ethics. As a result, this was one of the qualities which were passed down to his students at a very young age.
WATCH THIS STORY: Kobe Bryant’s Best Lakers Teammates Featuring Shaquille O’Neal and Pau Gasol
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What is your favorite memory of Kobe Bryant? Let us know in the comments down below.
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