Kobe Bryant, a legend that will never be forgotten until the end of time. A legend that reconstructed the sport of basketball and helped others carry it forward. He was someone who put a lot of effort into building a community for young athletes, especially, women in sports. The legacy that he left behind over three years ago, is something people can learn a lot from to lead a successful life.
Throughout his tenure in the NBA, the Black Mamba always worked hard to be the best on the court. He spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, through thick and thin. Bryant earned multiple accolades including 5x NBA titles, a few MVP awards, and international success. To this day, several NBA players wear their hearts on their sleeves while remembering Bryant.
Kobe Bryant made a lot of friends while he was alive. Some shared beautiful relationships with him. For instance, Hollywood’s Jimmy Fallon was also extremely close to Bryant. Following his death, Fallon’s eyes welled up while he recalled a hilarious story about their first meeting. Similarly, even Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal were gutted by the tragic helicopter crash.
Drake honors the city of Los Angeles while paying homage to the first time he met Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant, and seven others lost their lives in a helicopter crash that took place on January 26, 2020. The Mamba holds a special place in the hearts of Los Angeles citizens. Recently, Drake hosted a concert in LA and had fans from all parts of California drop by. The Grammy Award winner also invited LeBron James and Bronny James to walk out with him before he took the stage. Midway through his concert, the rapper took a moment to honor the City of LA and Kobe.
He said, “I’m from a place called Toronto, [in] Canada, by the way. And the first place that I had ever moved in my life, I had to move away from home, move away from my mother, move away from my friends. The first place to ever take me in, was Los Angeles, California.”
“I was on Lil Wayne’s tour bus… He said, ‘I got this album… I want to play it for you. But we got to wait for somebody to get here first.’ So I waited on the bus… Finally, this tall figure walks through the bus… and it’s Kobe Bryant.”
🗣️ Drakepic.twitter.com/EHunprM52L
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 23, 2023
He added, “And I’ll never forget in my life, the day I got thrown out to get signed right. I was on Lil Wayne’s tour bus, I’ll never forget it. He said, ‘I got this album… I want to play it for you. But we got to wait for somebody to get here first.’ So I waited on the bus… Finally, this tall figure walks through the bus… It’s Kobe Bryant. So I want to let you know, Los Angeles, you can do a lot of things. And tonight I want to pour all my respect and all my love to you the right way.”
Drake had the entire crowd roaring over Kobe Bryant. It was certainly a beautiful sight to see much less live through it. The City of LA holds Kobe close to its heart. There are several murals and statues of him throughout the city. The Crypto.com Arena recently unveiled a statue in addition to its existing collection of Lakers greats.
