A coach, a husband, a father, and a vocal champion of women's basketball, Kobe Bryant always motivated people to hustle.
The second youngest NBA player in history, Kobe Bryant is often considered as the best player in the history of basketball. From a very young age, he started playing basketball, thanks to his father, an NBA player himself. He went on to become one of the most cherished players of the Los Angeles Lakers and won the NBA championship five times. Despite his feud with teammate Shaquille O'Neal, the pair led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002.
Apart from being a legendary player, Bryant was also a doting father of five daughters and vocally supported the dreams of every girl who wanted to be something. He was the founder of Mamba Academy of basketball where his daughter 13-year-old Gianna practiced basketball. Bryant was not only a supportive father to Gigi but also a patient coach who was training her to touch even greater heights than him.
On the fateful morning of January 26, 2020, the news of Bryant and Gianna's demise broke and sent the entire world into a fit of shock. Their tragic death in a helicopter crash along with seven others was too much for the world to take. Fans and admirers started flooding social media with motivational quotes of him and various incidents from his life that could comfort the sorest heart. From a little boy from Pennsylvania to a basketball legend, Kobe Bryant's life is proof of what hard work and dedication can yield. The late NBA star was known for his never-say-never attitude. He faced many highs and lows in his personal and professional life but he kept going.
As the world continues to mourn his death along with his widow Vanessa and their three surviving daughters, here are 25 quotes from the man himself that will never let you forget him or his values.
1. "This is the moment I accept the most challenging times will always be behind me and in front of me."
2. "Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise."
3. "The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do."
4. "Winning takes precedence overall. There’s no gray area. No almosts."
5. "I realized that intimidation didn’t really exist if you’re in the right frame of mind."
6. "I’m reflective only in the sense that I learn to move forward. I reflect with a purpose."
7. "My parents are my backbone. Still are. They’re the only group that will support you if you score zero or you score 40."
8. "The beauty in being blessed with talent is rising above doubters to create a beautiful moment."
9. "If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail."
10. "Pain doesn’t tell you when you ought to stop. Pain is the little voice in your head that tries to hold you back because it knows if you continue you will change."
11. "Use your success, wealth and influence to put them in the best position to realize their own dreams and find their true purpose."
12. "We all have self-doubt. You don’t deny it, but you also don’t capitulate to it. You embrace it."
13. "The most important thing is you must put everybody on notice that you’re here and you are for real."
14. "Trust me, setting things up right from the beginning will avoid a ton of tears and heartache."
15. "I create my own path. It was straight and narrow. I looked at it this way: you were either in my way or out of it."
16. "We can always kind of be average and do what’s normal. I’m not in this to do what’s normal."
17. “Dedication sees dreams come true.”
18. “The examples are endless but my philosophy is simple. Once I knew my seed, I was able to discover my muse and my purpose for being was crystal clear.”
19. “Passion is the fuel for success.”
20. "It’s the one thing you can control. You are responsible for how people remember you—or don’t. So don’t take it lightly."
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