SportsIcons_Kobe

SPORTS ICONS
Gleanings from the
Lives of World-class
Sportspersons
By Richard Dy
KobeBryant
CHAPTER 22
KOBE’S DEFINING MOMENT
Our dream becomes a reality when we
courageously decide to pursue it regardless
of the challenges that may come our way.
START
While Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were dominating
the NBA in the 1990s, a teenage, high school phenomenon was making
a name for himself at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania.
The kid’s name was Kobe Bean Bryant.
Bryant began his NBA career as a skinny teenager by skipping
college, one of the few youngsters who made the rare jump from prep
to pros.
Bryant became the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft
after being selected by the Charlotte Hornets. The basketball phenom
was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for veteran center
Vlade Divac on draft day.
It was a move that would guarantee the Lakers’ renewed
relevance in the NBA.
The 6-foot-6 Bryant didn’t actually start his career on the right
foot after ending his rookie season (and the Lakers’) in disappointment,
attempting four air balls in Game Five of the Lakers’ Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz.
But the playoff disaster in his freshman year didn’t seem
to dampen Bryant’s spirit, who used his rookie season’s failures to
improve himself.
By his fourth season as a pro, Bryant was already on top of the
world, earning his first NBA championship ring in the 2000 season
behind multi-titled coach and triangle offense proponent Phil Jackson
and star center Shaquille O’Neal.
The man known as the “Black Mamba” won four more NBA
championships (2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010).
By the NBA’s 2014–2015 season, Bryant’s 19th year as a pro,
the Lakers’ veteran leader climbed to third in the all-time scoring list,
surpassing NBA great Michael Jordan during the Lakers’ 100–94 win
over the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 14, 2014.
Bryant is behind Laker great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387
points) and one-time LA teammate Karl Malone (36,928) on the NBA’s
all-time scoring list.
NBA:
Below is a summary of Bryant’s long list of achievements in the
- NBA Most Valuable Player (2008)
- 16-time NBA All-Star (1998, 2000–2014)
- Two-time Olympic gold medalist (2008 in Beijing and 2012
London)
- Four-time NBA All-Star Game MVP (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011)
- NBA Slam Dunk champion (1997), nine-time NBA AllDefensive first team (2000, 2003-2004, 2006-2011)
- 11-time All-NBA First team (2002–2004, 2006–2013)
- Two-time NBA scoring champion (2006–2007)
- Five-time NBA champion (2000–2002, 2009–2010)
- Lakers’ all-time leading scorer and NBA’s third all-time
leading scorer
- Owns the second-highest single scoring record of 81 points in
NBA history (Bryant did the trick on January 22, 2006 in a 122–104 win
over the Toronto Raptors).
CROSSOVER
Looking back, who would ever have thought that an 18-yearold kid straight out of high school would compile such a long list of
accomplishments in an NBA career that has spanned nearly 20 years?
Just check out Youtube and you’d see hundreds of video
highlights of Bryant since his rookie year.
His considerable achievements in the NBA have already
secured Bryant’s place in the Basketball Hall of Fame, mentioned
in the same breath as pro basketball legends Michael Jordan, Wilt
Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird.
In retrospect, Bryant’s four air balls during the 1997 NBA
Playoffs can be likened to success wrapped in the form of failure.
Although he had botched his four attempts in regulation and
overtime that led to the Lakers’ playoff exit, he took failure in his
freshman year as an opportunity to grow as an athlete.
The four air balls served as a coal that fueled his desire to
become better. And that eventually steered him and the Lakers to NBA
greatness.
Kobe Bryant tries to elude PBA superstar James Yap during the SMART Ultimate All-Star Weekend on July
23, 2011 at the Araneta Coliseum. Bryant led a band of NBA players, known as the SMART All-Stars in
demolishing the PBA Selection, 131-105.
HOME PLATE
l What are some of your “air ball” moments in life? Take the time to
look back at them.
l How did those moments affect the way you live your life today?
GAMEPLAN
l Take time to read Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV).
l Oftentimes, when push comes to shove, it is easier to stop altogether
and wallow in pity. However, we have to realize that as long as we are
alive, challenges will also be part of life.
l We all have a choice today: press on towards the bright future God
has in store for us, or, push the button of discouragement that would
bring our lives to an endless cycle of defeat and whining.
REFERENCES
“Kobe Bryant.” Encyclopedia.com <http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Kobe_Bryant.aspx> (visited 13 October
2014)
Medina, Mark. “Lakers’ Kobe Bryant surpasses Michael Jordan on NBA’s all-time scoring list.” Los Angeles Daily
News. 14 December 2014. <http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20141214/lakers-kobe-bryant-surpasses-michaeljordan-on-nbas-all-time-scoring-list> (visited 16 December 2014)
“Kobe Bryant.” <http://kobebryant.com/> (visited 13 October 2014)
“KobeBryantPlayerfile.”<http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kobe_bryant/>(visited13October2014)
“Kobe Bryant Biography.” Bio. <http://www.biography.com/people/kobe-bryant-10683945#synopsis> (visited
13 October 2014)