Better Than We Found It

A tragic accident made world news on January 26, 2020. Basketball legend Kobe Bryant passed away in a helicopter accident along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven other people. The sudden news left the world in stunned disbelief.

After this news broke, countless figures – and not only in the world of sports – took to social media to process this death. People such as Barack Obama, Mark Cuban, and Bill Russell are among the few recognizable names to take to Twitter to express their shock and condolences.

But perhaps the reactions from those who never even knew him provide the best insight into the type of influence Bryant truly left behind. People who never spoke one word to Bryant also took to social media to express the loss they’ve felt from his passing – many posting inspirational quotes by the icon and what his influence meant to them personally.

Bryant retired from basketball in 2016 after completing his 20th season in the NBA with the Lakers. In a 2017 ceremony, the organization retired both of the jersey numbers he wore (No. 8 and No. 24).

In his career, Bryant scored his way to an impressive 24 50-point games and made 8,368 free throws which contributed to his 33,583 point total in the NBA. He held the third-highest point total of all time until LeBron James recently passed him. (Bryant’s last tweet was him congratulating James on the victory).

Media outlets continue to commemorate his impressive statistics and the example he provided during his time on the court. However, his influence did not end with his legendary basketball career.

Along with being an iconic athlete, he was a mentor and a hero to so many. He contributed great work to the world that carried out his work ethic to others. In 2018, Bryant won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short for his six minute film, Dear Basketball. That same year he published a book, The Mamba Mentality: How I Play.

Bryant also founded the Mamba Sports Academy, a multisport training center which aims to train and mentor young athletes. His influence lives on in those who try to emulate the talent he earned in his career and his dedication to greatness in all other areas of life. Countless lessons have been and will continue to be passed on during his post-playing days.

Bryant didn’t keep his influence to himself. He dedicated a career to being the best he could be, and then even a life after toward helping others reach their goals too. That’s why his influence transcends the world of basketball and has left him as a global, iconic figure to a generation that is currently mourning the loss of his life – regardless if they personally knew him or not.

That type of grieving is evidence of the reach and depth of his influence.

As Bryant once said:

“It’s the one thing you can control. You are responsible for how people remember you – or don’t. So don’t take it lightly. If you do it right, your game will live on in others. You’ll be imitated and emulated by those you played against and those who never saw you play at all. So leave everything on the court. Leave the game better than you found it. And when it comes time for you to leave, leave a legend.”

We mourn this tragic loss and remember the life of a true influencer.