Keep in mind that this article was written on June 18, not August 4th.
When the Lakers traded with the Charlotte Hornets for the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, they knew that he was good.
But not a basketball icon.
Not a sports icon.
Not a person who would become the Black Mamba.
Not a role model for people not just in America, but around the world.
Not a person that would help give back to communities and fans across the globe.
Not someone who had an entire fanbase behind him every night.
Not someone who when he shot the ball in the closing seconds, everyone and their mother thought it was going in.
Not an advocate for the top women’s basketball leagues in the country, the WNBA.
Not someone who wore two different jerseys on one team for his entire career.
Not someone who would start putting shots up before 5 in the morning.
Not someone who would create his own way of living (Mamba Mentality).
Not someone who was an accomplished author.
Not someone who would become the first basketball player to win an Oscar.
Not someone who sent shock waves around the world when him and his daughter, Gianna, died in a plane crash on January 26, 2020.
Throughout his NBA career, he was an 18-time All-Star, a 2-time Scoring Champion, won 5 championships, was on a All-NBA team 15 times, was on a All-Defensive team 12 times, a 4-time All-Star Game MVP, a 2-time Finals MVP, and a Regular Season MVP.
He averaged 25 points a game, 5.2 rebounds a game, and 4.7 assists a game in his career.
What else do I have to prove to you?
RIP Kobe, the world loves you.
Source: basketball-reference.com