BY JORGE REYNA / VN SPORTS EDITOR
On Sunday, the world was in a paused shock after hearing of the death of Kobe Bryant, who was only 41 years old.
Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among nine people who died on their way to her basketball game in Bryant’s personal helicopter when it crashed in Calabasas, California.
Less than 24 hours prior to the fatal accident, Lebron James had passed Kobe to become third on the all-time scoring list.
Bryant took to Twitter to congratulate James, saying: “Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother #33644”.
We remember the legend in many ways.
We remember his commitment in spending his whole career with the Los Angeles Lakers and his five championships. We also remember his charitable commitments with organizations like After-School All-Stars, Make-A-Wish, the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation and more.
Superstars like Joel Embiid, Shaquille O’Neal, Tony Parker, Dwyane Wade and many others took to social media to express their emotions after hearing the shocking news.
The five-time champion lived by Mamba Mentality, a constant quest to try to be better today than you were yesterday.
Many today live by this mentality. It is because as we are young, we are still lost – lost in a big world as we try to figure out right from wrong, good from evil and love from hate.
Mamba Mentality can be maintained through growth, especially growth after defeat – defeat not only in athletics but also life.
Defeat is the opportunity to help us grow and learn. Through this we can ultimately find the best versions of ourselves.
Bryant instilled this in millions of fans.
Although Kobe is gone from this world, it is our job to spread Mamba Mentality and keep moving and striving toward greatness, as he did. Take no shortcuts.
“Have a good time, enjoy life. Life is too short to get balled down and be discouraged. You have to keep moving. You have to keep going and put one foot in front of the other. Smile and keep on rolling,” said Bryant
