8 Things that fans and non-fans remember about Kobe Bryant

1. HE WAS A BASKETBALL LEGEND. Young men who grew up during his early days as a professional player consider Kobe Bryant as inspiration and a long-time basketball icon.
2. HE WAS A WRITER. He wrote a poem, “Dear Basketball” which later served as basis for a short film of the same title, serving also as narrator. It won an Academy Award for best animated short film. He has also penned a book The Mamba Mentality: How I Play.
3. HE WAS CATHOLIC. He attributed his Catholic faith in overcoming the difficult chapter in his life when he was accused of sexual assault. He also saved his marriage.
4. HE HELPED THE POOR. He and his family helped the poor through the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Founding, helping fund youth homeless shelters and other projects.
5. HE WAS A FRIEND TO FELLOW NBA STAR PLAYERS. Though he and fellow Lakers’ star player Shaquille O’Neal had a difficult relationship before, they later found success as a team. LA Lakers have won in NBA thanks to their tandem. Fellow players like Magic Johnson have honored Kobe Bryant after hearing about his untimely death through their social media posts.
6. HE ATTENDED MASS BEFORE HIS DEATH. Hours before his death on January 26, Kobe attended Mass at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Newport Beach, California.
7. HE DID NOT DIE ALONE. Gianna, 13, his daughter was killed along with seven others via helicopter crash as they were about to go to a youth basketball tournament.
8. HE HAD TWO JERSEY NUMBERS IN HIS CAREER. Kobe Bryant is the only player in NBA history to have two jersey numbers with the same team. From 8, he changed to No. 24 midway through his career.