Kobe Bryant fans reflect on his legacy after tragic loss

The world mourns the death of a basketball icon, Kobe Bryant. He and eight others died on Jan. 26 from a helicopter crash. 

Bryant was an NBA basketball player for the L.A. Lakers for 20 years. He was a role model for young basketball players including these five varsity basketball players.

“I looked up to him because of his work ethic and competitive spirit. I was saddened when I heard about his death because he is someone who motivated me to work harder,” senior Ben Sernett said.

In Bryant’s career, he won five NBA championships, and entered the NBA straight out of high school. He was known as one of the best basketball players in NBA history. 

“Kobe Bryant was someone I watched growing up. He was someone that I watched a lot of videos on and a lot of my coaches and my parents showed me inspirational videos with him in them to get me and my teams motivated at the bringing of seasons,” sophomore Anaya Barney said. 

After scoring 60 points in his last game, he retired in 2016. 

“I watched a lot of his highlights on YouTube from his early part of his career and watch him as No. 24. I looked to Kobe for a lot of motivation and to see his work ethic. The Mamba Mentality was something I admired about him,” senior Cael Loecher said. 

Sadly on Jan. 26, he and his daughter Gianna along with 7 others passed away in a helicopter crash. 

“At first I didn’t believe it, but I looked it up, and I was devastated. That whole day I was not myself,” senior Keyshawn Mosley said.

“I was shocked when I heard of his passing and honestly couldn’t believe that someone of that stature could go so soon,” senior Lexie Godfrey said. 

He was an inspiration to other basketball players and other people around the world.

“I was shocked when I heard the news, and I didn’t know how to react. He was an icon for our generation, and we won’t see another athlete like Kobe,” Loecher said.