Listen Live
Rickey Smiley Morning Show Featured Video
CLOSE
Los Angeles Lakers v Phoenix Suns

Source: Andrew D. Bernstein / Getty

Update 1/26/23 – Today marks the 3rd anniversary of the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant and the 7 others from a helicopter crash in California. Below is a gallery of some of our favorite moments from the legend Kobe Bryant. 

 

When speaking on the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball, there is no way a list can be compiled without mentioning the legendary Kobe ‘Bean’ Bryant!

The son of former NBA player Joe Bryant, he was born in Philadelphia and partly raised in Italy. After being recognized as the top American high school basketball player while at Philadelphia’s Lower Merion, he declared for the 1996 NBA Draft. He was taken with the 13th selection by the Charlotte Hornets then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. The rest was history.

The Black Mamba went on to play his whole career (20 seasons) for the franchise. During his tenure with the team, he became one of the most decorated players of all-time. In his illustrious career, Bryant won five NBA championships (with two Finals MVPs), was the 2008 Most Valuable Player, was an 18 time All-Star (with 4 MVPs), a 15-time member of the All-NBA Team and a 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team. He also led the league in scoring twice and ranks fourth in league all-time regular season and postseason scoring. After his untimely passing, he was voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. On top of all of his basketball accomplishments, he also won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for the film Dear Basketball (2017).

Bean’s legacy is one that will live on forever. His family, former/current players and his millions of fans continue to carry on the Mamba Mentality that Kobe lived his life with. His numbers will also forever live in the rafters as he became the first player ever to have two numbers retired. On this day 6 years ago, the city of Los Angeles declared 8/24 Kobe Bryant Day. To pay homage to one of the greatest of all time, we put together a gallery of some of our favorite photos of him. HAPPY MAMBA DAY! Share your favorite Kobe moments in the comments!

MAMBA DAY: 24 Photos To Celebrate Kobe Bryant’s Legacy  was originally published on globalgrind.com

1. OSCAR!

Source:kobebryant

2. FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME Source:Getty

3. THEE DYNAMIC DUO

Source:kobebryant

4. SUPPORTING THE W

Source:Lakers

5. #GIRLDAD

Source:MyMixtapez

6. 5 TIME CHAMPION

5 TIME CHAMPION Source:Getty

7. BLACK MAMBA

Source:kobebryant

8. KOBE, THE COMIC

Source:kobemurals

9. MAMBACITA

Source:kobebryant

10. MIRROR MATCH

MIRROR MATCH Source:Getty

11. DRAFT NIGHT

Source:kobebryant

12. MUSE

MUSE Source:Walter Iooss Jr./The Players’ Tribune

13. HERMANOS

Source:kobebryant

14. GOLD MEDALIST

Source:kobebryant

15. UNSTOPPABLE

Source:NBAMemes

16. YOUNG BEAN

Source:TheRealAntonioA

17. FOREVER LOVE

Source:kobebryant

18. CHAMPAGNE PAIN

Source:hilla_tm

19. HOW?

Source:NBAMemes

20. GOATS

Source:kobebryant

21. WINNING TIME

Source:kobebryant

22. WAY UP!

Source:BallisPsych

23. PASSING THE TORCH

Source:kobebryant

24. MAMBA OUT

MAMBA OUT Source:Getty