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Toronto Raptors: Top five performances from a perfect week 14

By Aditya Chandran

Toronto Raptors - Kyle Lowry (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors - Kyle Lowry (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna sit courtside at a game between the Lakers and Mavericks
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 29: Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant attend the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks on December 29, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Kobe Bryant was underrated at a young age. Drafted 13th overall and traded by the Charlotte Hornets, no one ever thought he would be the player he is today. Even when he won three championships with Shaquille O’Neal, he was viewed as the second option that rode O’Neal’s back.

But this didn’t deter Bryant. The Mamba scratched and clawed his way back to the NBA finals as the main star and number one option. He won not one but two more rings and solidified his legacy as one of the greatest to ever play the game.

Even as injuries shortened his career, he refused to give up without a fight. One of the greatest moments I was blessed to witness was Bryant’s last game when he scored 61 points and said goodbye to the world.

However, Kobe Bryant was not done just yet. Sure his professional career was over as an athlete, but that did not stop him from striving to achieve greatness. He won an Oscar, something no other player had ever done. He started his own ESPN show called Detail, and Bryant also started coaching his daughter Gianna’s basketball team.

Throughout all the success and all the fame, Kobe Bryant remained humble. Even when LeBron James passed him for third on the all-time scoring list, Bryant congratulated him and called him his brother.

Bryant received a lot of criticism throughout his career. He was called selfish, a ball hog, and a bad teammate. But in reality, he just an extremely hard worker that was striving for greatness that many people could not comprehend.

Bryant has a special place in my heart as he was the player that got me into the game of basketball. He was someone I idolized deeply and was lucky enough to watch him play for most of his career. He made me want to work hard to be a better me.

Kobe Bryant, I salute you. Thank you for being the player, person, and father that you were. The world will always love and miss you.

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