It was in the mid 1990s that I first heard about you, the high school kid who was so great that the NBA was already considering drafting you. It immediately grabbed my attention because I grew up playing basketball and I knew the level of talent you HAD to be to be considered so GREAT.
I knew that to be recognized like that, your work ethic must have been literal INSANITY. So I started paying more attention to the news, the NBA, the chatter and I was already a fan.
In 1996 you were drafted into the NBA as the youngest player in history to begin your pro career. I watched videos of hearing you speak of greatness and I could feel you belief in yourself. I could feel that you were going to do whatever it takes, so I watched you.
We are only months apart in age and I always connected with your mindset. You hit the NBA and you started to shine. You were named the NBA All-Rookie second team. You won a slam dunk competition in 1997. In 1998 you became the youngest starter ever in your first NBA all star game.
You had attitude, ego, and issues with Shaq in your early years. But I knew it was because you believed you were going to be the GOAT and you felt others needed to elevate themselves to your level. I got it. I understood you.
You started being known for your sick work ethic, willing to do 200-400% more than any other pro in the league. Known for training 4-6am, then again 9-11am, then again 2-4pm, then again 7-9pm. Known for putting in MORE time, more hours, more effort than anyone else in the league. I was absolutely impressed, inspired, I have never seen anything like it. It made me want to be a better me, to work harder than anyone else in my life, to pursue my own personal greatness.
You were not only evolving as the GOAT, you were elevating the game, you were elevating the WORLD. Winning your first NBA championship in 2000. Inspiring athletes from all other sports to put in MORE effort into their training to become great. You were on top of the world! You taught us that GREATNESS comes from WORK, putting in the time when noone is looking. Its what you do in the dark that makes you shine under the lights.
In 2003 you made a mistake, but you taught us that you were human and to OWN your mistakes, apologize, ask forgiveness and move on. Charges dropped. I forgave you. Most of the world forgave you. You taught us to man up and take care of your responsibilities.
You continued your grind, continued the sick work ethic that was winning scoring titles, Winning MVP awards, winning a Gold medal in the Olympics, more NBA titles, all while becoming a very dedicated family man. You taught us that having kids is no excuse to not be able to crush your goals. But you also taught us to make your family a priority.
More years pass and you are experiencing many injuries, all the while starting your new business ventures. But you still had dreams of being the GOAT and you kept moving forward. Known for the summer you committed to 1,000 makes per day, completing over 100,000 that off season. Hitting an 81 point game that following season. You taught us that repetition is the key to greatness and that you were going to keep crushing it in life after you retire. But you kept grinding.
You surpassed your idol Michael Jordan’s all time scoring list in 2014. Teaching us to learn from the best, and improve upon it.
In 2015 you announced that you were going to retire at the end of the season and the world was in shock. In 2016 you scored 60 points in your final game in the NBA as you beat the Utah Jazz. Closing out 20 years of GREATNESS. Teaching us that things come to an end and to make the MOST of it. Teaching us NOT.
You ended that game giving a speech to the crowd showing his gratitude to the fans for their support all these 20 years. Thanking his wife for holding down the family so he could invest the time into training. You taught us to be grateful every day and that he didnt do it alone and to be grateful for those that invested in helping you become GOAT.
In 2017 you were double inducted into the hall of fame for both jerseys #24 and #8 only to be followed up with an Academy Award for your short film called “Dear Basketball”. Along with becoming a publisher, and author for childrens books to inspire the next generation. You taught us, the hustle doesnt stop you keep going to become the best in everything you do.
You spent the next few years doing interviews, speeches, to educate and inspire the next generation of athletes. Along with making your family your #1 priority with 4 kids now. You taught us that being the GOAT isnt whats important, its helping everyone else become their own personal GOAT that truly makes the difference in this world.
I’ve loved you since you first hit the scene. Ive respected you since the moment I first saw your commitment to your goals. Ive always been a massive fan, even though I dont watch sports, Ive been a fan of YOU. The person behind the athleticism.
You are someone I thought would be one of the very rare that was going to be thriving living to over 100 years old. I expected to see you influencing the world for the next 6 decades to come as I will be.
January 25th, 2020 Lebron James, who idolized you growing up, surpasses you in the all time scoring list. You were there, this image here was actually your last instagram post congratulating the current GOAT who was originally inspired by YOU.
Then on the very next day, on Jan. 26, 2020 a tragic accident happened as you were flying with your 13 year old daughter to practice with a few others in a helicopter. We lost you. We lost them.
The entire world, billions of people, were devastated. The entire world came to a stop. In tears. Athletes in disbelief in tears. Celebrities mourning. We cant even imagine what Vanessa is feeling losing her husband and her child at the same time. Being a father of 4, I cried like a baby the entire day.
We never expected to lose you, we never expected having to say goodbye. We never imagined a world without Kobe in it. Im in tears as I write this. I’ve never met you, but connected with you, your mindset, your mission, as did millions of others.
But you are gone, gone forever. All we can do now is be grateful for the time we had with you. Be thankful for the lessons you have taught us. To be appreciative of the 41 years of your presence.
I thank you bro. You were my number 1 work ethic/life inspiration for over 2 decades. Im a better man because of you. I am a better athlete because of you. I am a better businessman because of you. I am a better father because of you. I am a better husband because of you.
I will not let your loss go unnoticed, I will elevate my Mamba Mentality in every area and become BETTER in every way. Because I know that that is what you want most out of all of us. The Mamba Mentality will live on. You taught us that heroes come and go but LEGENDS live forever.
RIP Kobe Bryant….5, 4, 3, 2,….1 Mamba Out!
Daymond Sewall
