An Open Letter to Kobe Bryant

Dear Kobe,

Thank you. Thank you for your love to the game, for showing me your work ethic, and for sharing your gifts with the world. You taught me that when you get injured, you get back up, hit your free throws, and walk off the court. 

You taught me not to take days off, to out work everyone else, and to give everything you’ve got every second of every day. You taught me that when you air-ball five straight shots in clutch time in the playoffs, you spend all of the next day shooting, and shooting, and shooting. You taught me how to make up for my mistakes. 

You taught me to be strong.

I never knew 8. I never knew the “shoot 30 times in a quarter,” “dunk all over you,” “drop 81 points on your head” Kobe. I knew 24. I knew the NBA MVP, the Finals MVP, the “play through the pain” Kobe. I knew the Mamba. Nobody could keep up with 8. Nobody could stop 24. 8 would demoralize you with force. 24 would pick you apart piece by piece. 

Both were legendary.

I knew a killer on the court. I knew an ambassador for the game. I watched as you dropped 60, leading your team back from a double-digit 4th quarter deficit in your final game like only you could.

You gave me hope. Showed me, with hard work, I could come back from major injury to do the things I loved. I took the jokes as I worked hard after everyone else had gone home, because I knew you did the same.

You made me love both the game and the grind, and helped so many others do the same. You are the reason I always practiced my post fade and my jab step. You inspired so many of us. You may be gone physically, but your imprint will never leave the game.

You may not be here, but whenever we take a shot we will always yell one name: “Kobe!”

Rest easy Mamba,

Seth Helman

Featured Image: Stacy Revere / Getty Images