Kobe Bryant
That is why he will always be remembered
Kobe Bryant died at the age of 41.
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A year ago, Kobe Bryant's death not only shocked the sports world. But why was he so much more than just a successful athlete?
On January 26th, the news of the death of basketball superstar Kobe Bryant (1978-2020) shocked not only sports fans in the US, but millions of people around the world. Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles, was much more than a sports icon. Because of this, his star will shine forever.
The basketball megastar
Five championship titles, 19 All-Star nominations, Olympic gold medal and the fourth most points of any NBA player. Black Mamba's career, as Kobe Bryant is nicknamed, could hardly have been more successful. But far from his incredible achievements on the floor, the fans were always fascinated by his loyalty to the club. From 1996 to 2016 he laced his shoes continuously for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The clean image
Not only his incredible talent, but also this loyalty to the Lakers earned him an incredible amount of respect around the world. Although he played for long stretches of the best team in the world and was awarded stately contracts there, he was never suspected of being a Raffzahn who wanted to earn as much money as possible in his career. Even in his worse years, he never flirted with a change.
The ambitious
In contrast to other NBA superstars, Bryant was said to have an incredible meticulousness, an almost inhuman ambition, an incredible diligence in training. Many teammates confirmed again and again that Bryant trained like a berserk, spent days preparing for opponents and hated nothing more in this world than to lose. He believed in hard work that is rewarded.
The near demise
However, one story almost became doomed in the public eye: In the summer of 2003, he was arrested in Colorado. A 19-year-old accused him of rape. The rising superstar continues to deny the allegations to this day, but admitted to having committed adultery. He apologized and agreed with the alleged victim on an extrajudicial payment. At that time, he lost all advertising contracts and first had to rebuild his reputation.
Lots of affairs?
A few years later the public had forgiven him, forgetting the escapade. Rather, his marriage was now in the foreground again: Back in 2001, Black Mamba married his boyhood love Vanessa Laine, who stayed by his side even during the scandal surrounding the alleged rape. But reports of further infidelities and affairs increased. In 2011 she filed for divorce, but in 2013 the two found each other again – until his death.
The faithful, caring father
Despite these extramarital affair reports, Bryant was always perceived as a loving father in public. Together with Vanessa, he had a total of four daughters, with whom he appeared again and again in appearances in front of the press or in the basketball arenas. His 13-year-old daughter Gianna died in the helicopter crash. Both were on their way to the young athlete's basketball game.
Oscar and Emmy winner
Everything Bryant touched seemed to be working out. For the US cartoon "Dear Basketball" he contributed the script and acted as the narrator. The reward: He was officially named Oscar winner after the 2018 Academy Awards. The film won Best Animated Short Film. There was also an Annie and an Emmy award for Bryant.
But the megastar was unable to continue its success story. Bad weather and a cocky pilot seem to have been his undoing in the helicopter crash. In the accident, the world lost more than just a sports star, but an identification figure for an entire generation. His name will therefore probably never be forgotten.