• Kobe Bryant played 20 seasons with the LA Lakers and won five NBA championships.
  • He retired with 33,643 career points and earned MVP and multiple Finals honors.
  • On Jan. 26, 2020, Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others died in a Calabasas helicopter crash.
  • Michael Jordan and the basketball world mourned, praising Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality.”

LA Lakers legend and NBA icon

Kobe Bryant emerged as an NBA standout when he entered the league as a 19-year-old. Drafted 13th overall and traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant developed into one of basketball’s most celebrated players. Over a 20-season career — a rarity for guards — he led the Lakers to five championships and became a global sports figure.

Career highlights

Bryant’s resume included the 2008 regular-season MVP, back-to-back NBA Finals MVP awards in 2009 and 2010, and 18 All-Star selections. He won Olympic gold with Team USA in Beijing (2008) and London (2012). Bryant finished his career with 33,643 points, surpassing Michael Jordan’s then-record of 32,292 points.

Numbers and legacy

He wore No. 8 during his first decade and No. 24 during his second; the Lakers retired both jerseys in 2017. The city of Los Angeles designated August 24 as “Kobe Bryant Day” to honor his impact on the game and the community. Bryant’s approach to the sport — often called the “Mamba Mentality” — inspired players and fans worldwide.

Tragic death in 2020

Death came unexpectedly. On Jan. 26, 2020, at about 9:37 a.m. local time, Bryant’s private Sikorsky S-76 helicopter crashed into a hillside near Calabasas, California, northwest of Los Angeles. Nine people aboard the aircraft died at the scene, including Kobe and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. They were en route to a basketball practice at the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, which Bryant founded.

Reactions and mourning

Michael Jordan, who had once called Bryant the only player he acknowledged as the best, led public mourning. At a memorial service at the Staples Center, Jordan said, “It feels like a part of me has died,” and recalled wanting to be Kobe’s “big brother.” Journalists and teammates remembered Bryant’s relentless work ethic and competitive drive.

Remembering the Black Mamba

Tributes emphasized Bryant’s dual role as champion and mentor. His dedication to excellence on and off the court—coaching youth, promoting the sport, and influencing a generation—shaped his legacy. Columns published after his death remembered him simply: “Long Live, Black Mamba.”

This article is based on translated archival reporting and remembers Kobe Bryant’s life, career and the shock of his sudden passing.

Image Referance: https://www.chosun.com/english/travel-food-en/2026/01/26/BLO7ADCUWNFUFDII6WGZCFXJF4/