The death of Kobe Bryant on January 26th shocked not only the basketball community but the world at large. Bryant was on a helicopter along with eight others including his thirteen-year-old daughter, Gianna; there were no survivors. Bryant played twenty seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers and won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 2008. His death immediately sent players and fans of the National Basketball Association (NBA) into mourning and caused tremors in the sports world.
Bryant was a huge supporter of soccer and his death was felt heavily by players and organizations. When Neymar scored a goal for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) shortly after reports of Bryant’s death were confirmed, he used the opportunity to honor the legacy of a player who transcended more than just basketball. Neymar held up the number twenty-four in front of the camera, Kobe’s old number, and held his hands in prayer to wish him farewell. Bryant’s favorite team while growing up in Italy was AC Milan and the team was heartbroken by the death of one of their lifelong supporters. To remember him, all the players wore a black armband and had a moment of silence before kickoff. Soccer legends Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo also expressed their sadness about the death of a legend and an icon of the sports world.
Bryant’s death caused shockwaves in the National Football League (NFL) as well. The Pro Bowl is a time for fun and enjoyment for the select players chosen to represent their conferences, but the startling news made the final day of the event much more somber. Just before the Pro Bowl kicked off, the players found out the news and were collectively devastated. Quarterback Russell Wilson got his teammates together and led a prayer in the locker room while other members of the team tried to console those who were in tears. Fans at the stadium also began to chant Bryant’s name after a moment of silence before the game. Many players also used celebrations to honor Bryant during the game as well.
The Super Bowl featured even more tributes to the Lakers legend. Before the game, all players on both teams lined up on the twenty-four-yard line to honor him and stood in silence, still shellshocked a week after his tragic passing. Emmanuel Sanders, a wide receiver, wore cleats featuring both of Bryant’s numbers, eight and twenty-four due to the influence that he had on Sanders. Players also auctioned off helmets to donate to Bryant’s charity, The Mamba Sports Foundation. Finally, Richard Sherman, a star cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers, wore a Bryant jersey into the stadium to show how important he was to the entire world of sports. Kobe Bryant had a massive influence on football and players everywhere honored his greatness.
Of course, no sport was more affected by Kobe’s death than basketball. In the days after his death, teams traded twenty-four-second violations to further honor the legacy of one of the greatest players of all time. Players also began changing their numbers away from twenty-four, a request that usually is only allowed months before the season starts, but in this extreme situation, the NBA allowed the mass number change. The NBA also changed the name of the All-Star MVP award to the “All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award” due to his massive importance on the sport.
Kobe Bryant’s death was a shock to the sporting world and, as such, caused mass mournings across various leagues and even countries. Kobe’s legacy is not untainted, but that does not change or detract from his massive influence on an entire generation of athletes spanning multiple continents. The death of Bryant was felt by everyone who watches or plays any sport and was honored in the way that reflects how his play transcended barriers and made him not just a basketball legend, but an international sports icon.
