On January 26, 2020 a helicopter crashed near Calabasas, California. On this helicopter were nine men and women who all passed away. Kobe Bryant was one of these men on this plane, and at age 41, had so much more to accomplish and share with those around him.

Kobe Bryant was a once in a generation type talent. He spent all 20 of his NBA seasons with the Lakers. An 18-time All Star, he was the model for hard-work and commitment for players and aspiring players alike. As the greatest isolation and late game scorer of all time, many people adored moves like his iconic fadeaway, and the ability to just takeover games. He scored 81 points on January 22, 2006 and in his final NBA game, dropped 60 points in an amazing comeback win over the Utah Jazz. His play was unmatched and is why he is considered among the greats. However he didn’t just impact other basketball players, he also inspired people around the world through positive speeches and showing how to fight for what you want.

He lived out the phrase “Mamba Mentality” which means that you are locked in on a goal and do whatever it takes to get there. He embodied this phrase with his dedication to the sport of basketball and by overcoming many obstacles outside of the sport. He wasn’t only a great basketball player, as he also won an Academy Award for his 7-minute short film titled “Dear Basketball.” Showing his dedication to whatever task he was undertaking was a trademark of his personality, and he will always be remembered for this.

We are terribly heartbroken by the events that went down this Sunday, and send our condolences to the Los Angeles Lakers organization and all the families of those who passed away in the crash, but especially the Bryant family as they must learn to move past this tragic event to live on his legacy. We love you Kobe and will miss you forever.