Three years ago, basketball lost one of its all-time greats. On January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant, 41, perished in a helicopter crash while on his way to a game with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and her pals.
Another seven people also lost their lives, as did the pilot, who was held responsible for the accident after investigations.
It has now been three years since that day but Kobe will never be forgotten. He was the idol of a whole generation of players, who grew up watching him play, trying to imitate his moves.
Kobe’s death and the tragic nature of the incident made an already huge legend even bigger.
Bryant was the fourth highest scorer in NBA history (33,643 points), won five rings, participated in 18 All Star games, won two Olympic gold medals, scored 81 points in a game and 60 on the day that he retired, shot free throws despite tearing his Achilles tendon, fought a thousand times against pain…
A demi-god who seemed untouchable
He was likened to a demigod, an untouchable being. But suddenly Kobe became human in the cruelest possible way.
“You think he could have walked away from the accident, that’s how invincible he was,” said Pau Gasol, who considered Bryant a big brother and remained close to the Bryant family until his death. Thousands of fans surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers’ Staples Center, leaving bouquets of flowers, photographs of their idols, messages, and letters at the gates. Many walls in Los Angeles have been covered in Kobe murals, and NBA games began with players straining to hold back tears.
