Los Angeles Lakers: The legacy of Kobe Bryant will live on forever

The Los Angeles and the NBA community suffered a horrible loss with the passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant on Sunday. As one of the best ever, Kobe will be leaving behind a legacy.

On Sunday morning, the world received some shocking news, as Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in California.

Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among the passengers on the helicopter that went down, killing everyone on board. First off, prayers go out to Kobe’s wife Vanessa and the rest of the Bryant family. Losing a husband and a daughter is an unthinkable pain and I can’t imagine the pain that she is going through.

Since I have been covering the Lakers for the past few years, I have quickly learned about how loved Kobe Bryant was in the city of Los Angeles. Growing up in New York, Bryant was one of my favorite players to watch and certainly one of the best I have seen in my life.

On the court, Bryant always brought his A-game every night, and there were few players that were as passionate about winning and the game of basketball as Kobe. The combination of him and Shaquille O’Neal were one of my favorite duos that I have seen in my life. While they might not have always got along when they were playing together, I will always remember the great championship victories and epic battles those two went through together.

Bryant’s accolades speak for themselves. He is a five-time champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, 18-time All-Star, and a league MVP.

While Bryant might no longer be with us, his legacy will be forever. As one of the best scorers and clutch players of all-time, we will always here kids from Los Angeles to New York scream “Kobe” when they hit a shot in the gym or at the park.

His work ethic and passion for the game is also something that has been passed along to the next generation. Despite being drafted out of high school with all the talent in the world, Kobe was one of the first ones in the gym and the last ones out of it. His work ethic is something that basketball players and really anyone in life can apply to themselves to become better at whatever they set their mind to.

As I came back through New York City last night, seeing the Empire State Building lit up in the Purple and Gold for Kobe is just a great representation of how much he meant to so many people.

It is deeply saddening knowing that his life, his daughter’s and the others on board were taken far too soon. Kobe was really embracing life after the NBA and he certainly had a lot of great things still in store for the world.

Once again, prayers to his family as they go through this awful time.

From myself, thank you Kobe. You were one of the reasons why I fell in love with the game of basketball, and your legacy will live on forever.