Toronto Raptors: Stock Take, and saying goodbye to Kobe Bryant

Basketball

Not many athletes can transcend their sport and become something much, much bigger than themselves – Kobe Bryant was one of those people. He became so much more than just a basketball player. He became a ray of hope, comfort, and success for the whole of L.A., he became a father to four beautiful children, and he became an inescapable figure.

Whether you liked Kobe Bryant or not, he was a fixture in everything that was basketball. He was the player that so many players in this generation looked up to. He was a brother, a competitor, a friend, and a role model to this crop of NBA stars – he’ll likely continue in that same vain for years to come.

He wasn’t perfect, by any means. After the rape allegations and case surrounding it in 2003 and later, the public perception regarding Bryant changed. He was no longer just the enemy of basketball teams, he was now hated by the masses.

This isn’t a redemption story by any means, but in his later years, Bryant gave a lot to his wife, their daughters, and women’s basketball. They were genuine efforts too. But, it’s hard to talk about Bryant without bringing up what happened.

He became an Oscar winner, a girl dad, and someone who looked destined for so much more than basketball. But, he’ll always go down as one of the all-time greats. So many people lost their hero on Sunday night. So many people lost a loved one, too.

It’ll hard to bounce back from this one. We should all take a moment to cherish life and to tell a loved one how much they mean to you. The world will never be the same.

VERDICT: STOCK DOWN