TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) — When it comes to a devastating loss, usually something good comes out of the whole situation. Hearts around the world are still broken over the sudden death of Kobe Bryant, a 5-time NBA champ. He, along with his 13-year-old daughter, and 7 other passengers were on board a helicopter in California, when it went down, killing everyone on board.
The good that has come out of the situation is how people are remembering the victims. Since Bryant's untimely death Sunday, Big Bend area players and coaches are truly embracing the Mamba Mentality.
"I think anybody that's enjoyed basketball has watched Kobe," explained Godby head boys basketball coach, Andrew Colville. "I mean, think about his name is Kobe, everybody knows him."
Kobe Bryant will forever be a name and legacy millions will remember.
Sirr Hampton, a Godby senior forward/guard said, "My first time actually watching Kobe, it was the 2009 championship. I was actually watching that game, and that was when I started falling in love with Kobe for real."
"I'm not a huge NBA fan but I am a huge Kobe fan," explained Matt Anderson the head boys basketball coach at Lincoln. "Just because, the way he played the game, and he was kind of a coach's dream. He was talking on the floor and in all of his interviews, he said the things that his coach would want to be said."
From winning 5 NBA titles, to having his own shoes, it was hard to not be inspired by the greatest to ever wear a Lakers jersey.
Keith Bush, a Gadsden County senior center said, "He's the reason I fell in love with the game ever since I was young. Me watching my dad watch him is the reason I started playing basketball."
And it's the Mamba mentality that players continue to strive for. "Every game he came in with intensity and he was going to dominate the man in front of him and I just live by that everytime I step on the court," said David Ganious a junior guard for the Lincoln trojans.
Ganious' teammate, Zae Wiggins added, "He motivated others, like go as hard as you can, like had that Mamba Mentality, just strive for greatness."
A greatness and a legacy, that will last forever.
