Gianna and Kobe Bryant’s memorial and a personal reflection

The world celebrated the life of Gianna and Kobe Bryant on Monday, both of which were heroes in their own right.

Today we laid an eighteen-time all-star, twelve-time All-Defensive Team, MVP, two-time Finals MVP, gold medal winner, five-time champion, second single game leading scorer of all time, fourth-leading career scorer, and greatest Laker of all time, Kobe Bryant, to rest.

These numbers and titles made Kobe a legend in the eyes of NBA players and fans around the world. At the same time, his influence and off the court achievements meant more than the stats ever could.

Off the court, Bryant was an inspiration to millions including myself, and as we saw in the last few years of his life, he was a proud father of four. The influence could be seen purely by the attendance of the memorial.

More from LA Sports Hub

• Lakers: 5 Players to Target Through Trades to make another championship run
• LA Chargers: Week 8 against Denver Broncos is a must-win
• LA Rams: Jared Goff wants to keep the Los Angeles title streak going
• Lakers Rumors: Los Angeles Clippers interested in Rajon Rondo
• LA Chargers: Justin Herbert wins AFC Rookie of the Month

Thousands packed into and wrapped around the Staples Center to grieve as one. Celebrities like Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, and Beyoncé (who gave a touching performance) were present. NBA legends like Michael Jordan (Kobe’s idol and role model) and Shaquille O’Neal.

To entire NBA teams reportedly staying for the service like the Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics, and some of the Houston Rockets. Individual players from many NBA teams requested for their coaches and front office executives to allow them to have the day off so they could be there to remember a man who had such an impact on the game and on the lives of so many people.

To me, Kobe Bryant was a hero, an icon, and a role model all wrapped into one man. He was someone who you could learn countless life lessons from. Beginning early on in his career he showed that you can come back from any setback as long as you refuse to let it defeat you.

Whether it be seeing him bounce back from media spectacle and the departure of Shaq to brutal injury after brutal injury, Kobe Bryant was just someone who could never be held down and almost seemed superhuman.

Kobe was a cold-blooded assassin on the court and never folded under pressure. To me, he is the most motivated and dedicated person I have ever observed in my life. It makes him so admirable and someone I strive to be. “Mamba Mentality” has been something that has stuck with me especially since Kobe’s passing, and I think it will stick with me for the rest of my life.

It is a mindset that I believe if someone has they are destined for greatness and they will work through everything and will settle for nothing in that pursuit of greatness.

Gigi Bryant was destined to be a phenom and even a WNBA star. She had dreams to attend the University of Connecticut, and I have no doubt she would have done it.

That “Mamba Mentality” was passed down to her. When with her dad on the street and a stranger told him he needed to have a boy to carry on the legacy Gigi interjected saying, “Oh, I got this. You don’t need a boy for that. I got this”.

The death of Gigi really opened my eyes. I am a senior in high school and this is the first time I remember someone younger than me with the celebrity of Gigi passing away. This really opened my eyes and showed me that life is not guaranteed for anyone.

My condolences go out to the Bryant family, and to anyone reading this: remember to talk on the phone or face to face with your family and friends. Take the time to tell people you care about them and what they mean to you, because as this tragedy shows nothing is guaranteed.