Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was a true advocate for women’s basketball later in life.
The sheer fact that Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant is no longer here on Earth still hurts to this very day. What tragically occurred on the foggy morning of January 26 will never make logical sense.
Granted no human being will ever be able to comprehend that sad event, many folks since Bryant’s death have shared how the five-time champion impacted them. A recent story published by Bruno Manrique of ClutchPoints further proves how incredibly lucky we were to have Kobe.
Kobe Bryant was always giving back to the basketball community.
Post his 20 years of excellence in the NBA, Kobe Bryant did not just lay back and sip on pi͍ña Coladas all day long. While no one would have questioned him even if he did opt to relax, the Black Mamba became just as renowned for what he did after basketball than what he did on the court. That is saying something.
One of the realms where Bryant’s weighty influence extended to was women’s basketball. It was actually quite interesting because after Kobe called it a career in 2016, basketball was not as prominent in his life as it had once been.
Certainly, it does not suggest he was not doing anything following his illustrious NBA career. For example, the legendary athlete became attached to another passion that he excelled at, believe it or not: storytelling.
As a matter of fact, Bryant went on to claim an Oscar for the Best Animated Short Film in 2018. It was based upon a tear-jerking poem he composed in 2015, not too long after he announced his retirement from the game.
It proved that the iconic figure was not just a one-trick pony who was only capable of swishing a spherical object into a basket. Contrarily, he was much more than that. Heck, the man did not stop there with writing and went on to assemble books such as The Mamba Mentality: How I Play.
While Kobe Bryant dabbled in other areas post-basketball, there came a stage where his involvement in hoops picked up steam again. A lot of that push was not self-derived, though. It came from having a daughter whose curious nature corresponded with his very own. Like father, like daughter.
Kobe’s second eldest daughter, Gianna, who was unfortunately also involved in the devastating crash, was the one who possessed the inquisitiveness. She had the intrinsic desire to follow in the footsteps of her papa and perhaps one day join the WNBA.
Gianna called upon Kobe for wisdom on hoops and he reciprocated without hesitation. The primary way he did this for his daughter was by coaching her at the Mamba Sports Academy he founded. In doing so, he was passing the torch in a sense to her whilst also sharing his wealth of knowledge with the next generation of ballers.
It demonstrated not only his natural love toward her as a father. However, it implied that he was in support of her dream and likewise the dreams of many.
In addition to coaching, seeing him and Gianna courtside at Staples Center became a treat for Lakers fans. It was another way for the latter to get close to the action and absorb particles of wisdom from sensei.
In other words, Bryant grasped the bigger picture. He understood his aura in formerly being in the league for so long and knew his job was not finished. Sure, he was maybe never going to play again but just by being there for those who needed a voice they could not provide, Kobe followed through like the champion he was.
To transition back to Manrique, boy, did Bryant follow through? He did so much to push the game forward and inspire. On account of being there for his daughter, it is perhaps no surprise he was there for other women as well.
Per that same article (originally via Alex Schiffer of The Athletic), Bryant executed a basketball camp for WNBA players from Jan. 13-15 of this very year at his facility. Needless to say, that very camp was orchestrated shortly before that fateful helicopter wreck.
Of course, this was not the first time the 2008 MVP chose to help other professionals at their craft. Be that as it may, Kobe is usually remembered for the private workouts he conducted with NBA players. Thus, in intentionally choosing this route, it revealed another side of him.
Despite the rough, fiery exterior many got used to seeing in his playing days, this showed a softer patch in his heart. He truly cared about using his otherworldly gifts to help others as much as he could.
Per Manrique’s transcription, Kobe Bryant himself admitted last autumn that the idea of holding a women’s camp was intriguing. If he could help NBA players, doing the same for women seemed to be the only reasonable option.
"“How can we do a men’s camp and not a women’s one?” Bryant told the Mamba Academy staff in the fall, shortly after the NBA camp."
Putting his words into action unveiled his appreciation for women’s sports and how far they have come along. Kobe Bryant had the desire to instill his uncanny drive into women and hopefully enable them to become better than they already were.
A couple participants in the camp commented on the experience and what it meant to them.
"“Finding the little details on how to be better on the court,” said Chelsea Gray. “The small details make the difference. How to be better in those moments. Anyone can make a fadeaway shot, but how do you get your shot off in the fourth quarter when they know you’re going to shoot it? Those little details are what made him great.”“As professionals, we do the same thing over and over,” added Kayla McBride. “He wanted you to take it to another level.”"
Gray brought up a particularly key point about Bryant. The Lower Merion High School product was beyond obsessive about the nuances of the game. He wanted to win so badly every time and it manifested itself in a way that was impossible to not notice.
On that note, it is special that he used some of his time post his NBA career to share what made him great. It is especially noteworthy that he invested time for female athletes, for they are not generally given the same attention by the media. It is sad to say, but true.
Therefore, Bryant’s attitude in this department showed that he was not afraid to stand out from the crowd. Not many would have had the willingness to go as far as to do this. And even for some of those who had that willingness, excuses may have suddenly come to light when it came to following through. Excuses were not in the vernacular of the skilled shooting guard.
Kobe Bryant being okay with being a teacher of sorts is a testament to his robust legacy. It says a lot about what he did in the few years he had subsequent to his time with the Lakers. Without a doubt, he made the most of that time and spent a good deal of it focused on the success of others.