Los Angeles Lakers legend, Kobe Bean Bryant, was one of the greatest players ever in the game of basketball. He was an offensive genius who could score from anywhere on the court. Kobe’s popularity during his playing days was huge. From league players to fans in the stadium, Kobe was everybody’s favorite player and he always gave the love back.
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When Kobe retired after the 2015-16 season, he continued to work for the game of basketball. Kobe’s untimed death in January 2020 shocked the world. Basketball fans and players couldn’t believe that they had lost their beloved “Black Mamba” so early in their life. But what is great about Kobe is that his legacy continues to live on even after his ill-timed death.
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Vanessa Bryant recently went to the city of Philadelphia and had something interesting to share on her Instagram stories. She went to Philadelphia to inaugurate new customized courts built by the Mambamambacita Foundation in collaboration with Nancy Lieberman.
In the video, we can see Vanessa and her daughter visiting one of the customized basketball courts. They saw the attached facilities and also interacted with the children present there.
Kobe Bryant – Greater than the game
Kobe dominated in the league right from his rookie year. The Charlotte Hornets, who had the thirteenth overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, selected Bryant with that pick.
But on a draft-day trade, they would trade Kobe to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Vlade Divac. From the Laker’s point of view, Lakers legend Jerry West gave the go-ahead for this trade.
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Jerry did this because Kobe had impressed him in his workout with the Lakers. With this trade, Jerry would team up Kobe with Shaquille O’Neal, hence setting up a foundation for the next generation of the Lakers dynasty.
The duo would win three NBA Championships together before their relationship broke down. Shaq would leave for the Miami Heat in 2004, leaving Kobe to be the sole leader of the team.
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After some years of no contention for championships, the team would go to three straight NBA Finals from 2008 to 2010. They would win the last two and Kobe also won his NBA Finals MVP award. Let us know in the comments below your favorite Kobe memory.