Kobe Bryant celebrating his 2010 NBA Finals win versus the Boston Celtics. Photo by Sports Illustrated.
On Jan. 26 2020, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, 41, and his daughter Gianna, 13, were tragically killed in a helicopter crash along with seven other passengers in Calabasas, CA.
Bryant was a household name among the basketball community; he was known for being an outstanding teammate and a fierce competitor, and his determination to achieve excellence nabbed him praise and respect from his peers. There is no doubt that Bryant made his mark on the sport of basketball, and his impact reached Western Carolina University’s Men’s and Women’s basketball teams.
Basketball players around the globe idolized Bryant for his skills on the court, and WCU’s basketball teams are no exception. Like many people, they grew up watching Bryant perform magic on the court and decimate opposing teams defenses. Douglas Elks, a redshirt Sophomore on WCU’s Men’s team, has been playing basketball since he was 5- years-old and recalled watching Bryant play.
“I remember the way he went out. In his final game he dropped 60 points. That’s not common; that doesn’t happen for all the guys that retire, and the fact that he was able to do that shows you that he was an elite basketball player and obviously one of the greatest to ever do it,” Elks said.
In a statement to The Western Carolina Journalist, star big man Carlos Dotson said Bryant was “a big inspiration in my life and to many other people around the world.”
“His mentality was one of a kind and it is a mentality that everyone should use no matter what you are doing in life. His legacy will live forever,” Dotson said in the email message.
WCU students from all walks of life mourned Bryant’s passing. Freshman Zion Biggers told WCJ: “Kobe wasn’t just an athlete, he was the unquestioned image of success of our generation.”
Bryant was a cultural phenomenon in all the right ways, capturing younger and older people alike with his mesmerizing athleticism, shot creation, and overall basketball I.Q. This tweet by Dotson encapsulates that effect Bryant had on people.
Kobe passing away still got me stuck … I can remember the times when I was in elementary or middle school and I would ball up my old homework and do a fade-away into the trash can and yell “Kobe”
— R.i.P grandpa (@Carlos_Dotson) January 26, 2020
When people hear the name Kobe Bryant, they typically only think of his superhuman abilities on the hardwood. Kiley Hill, Head Coach of the Women’s basketball team, respected many aspects of Bryant, and highlighted the man outside of the court.
“He made some mistakes and created a second chance opportunity. He made a redemption and moved forward and that’s something I want our players to look at. I want my players to be able to say I’ve made mistakes and I’ve learned from my failures, but a failure is an event; not a person.”
After retirement, Bryant famously dedicated his time to caring for his wife and four daughters. Their second child, nicknamed Gigi, was well on her way to basketball excellence like her father and grandfather Joe before her.
Bryant was confident she would carry on his basketball legacy, as he confessed to late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.
Kobe telling our pal Jimmy Kimmel about his daughter Gigi carrying on his legacy.
“I got this!”#RIPKobe pic.twitter.com/VXK0DJRgMI
— Ryan Field (@RyanFieldABC) January 26, 2020
With the loss of Kobe Bryant, Coach Hill took the time to break down what it means to wear the purple and gold on game day.
“I think it is a great honor to be a coach and teacher at this university…I hope that people see how the players approach the game, how they play the game, and be willing to give back to a greater good.”
“Wearing the purple and gold is not a right; it’s a gift. You must have a lot of pride wearing the purple and gold and you must know that there were a lot of people who wore it before you and you must decide how to carry on their legacy.”
Douglas Elks agrees.
“It means everything. I was given an opportunity to get an education and play basketball. I don’t want to take it for granted. This is so much bigger than basketball; there are so many opportunities to engage in the community and Western is such a special place and I’m just blessed to be a part of it.”
Story edited by Joel Vélez Rodríguez.
