Dear Kobe,

Dear Kobe,

I remember when I first sat down and watched a game of basketball. It was the Lakers vs the Celtics in the finals. I had no idea what was going on or who a lot of the players where. But I could tell who the best player on the court was, and it was you. I watched every move you made. I watched you play your heart out on both sides of the floor. It was in that moment I knew that if I ever got the chance to play basketball that I wanted to be just like you. And so when I got the opportunity to play basketball, I didn’t hesitate to wear number 24. I modeled my whole game after you, because you played the game with passion, with tenacity, with mamba mentality.

So Kobe, thank you.

Thank you for being fearless, even in failure. When you were a rookie, you took those big shots against Utah and and air-balled them. But you weren’t afraid of those shots. Actually, you would make a career off of hitting huge shots in the biggest moments. You left the game and worked on your craft for hours on end. Making sure that you would never come up short in those moments ever again. Thank you for putting in the work. Your work ethic inspired millions and millions of people, and it made a little kid from durham realize what it takes to be great. Thank you for being relentless and persevering, even when faced with injury. Although your mindset and heart were built to endure the game of basketball for eternity. Your body was not. It gave up on you, but you refused to be defined by the injuries. And you went on to win games and give us the biggest performances when we needed you the most. Thank you for being loyal. You never left LA, you bled purple and yellow. And you gave us 5 championships, and memories that will make me a Lakers fan for as long as I watch basketball.

Finally Kobe,

Thank you for being more than basketball. Thank you for showing the world what a supportive dad looks like. Thank you for being a great husband, what a great leader and man looks like. You weren’t just a great basketball player. You were a great man. You were an icon, a symbol of hard work, to friends, fans and people all around the world. Thank you Kobe, for inspiring me to work hard, for making me realize that there is more to life than just basketball. Thank you for giving me someone to look up to. From the bottom of my heart, I will miss watching you play basketball, and seeing you continue to be a great man away from the sport.

Dear Kobe, I think I can speak for everyone when I say this.

Thank You.

•