I am fortunate to have a close friend that is a big Lakers and Kobe Bryant fan.

The days where the Lakers were running the show were super exciting for me, because I would get picked up from LAX and with no time to check into my hotel would rush straight to the Staples Centre. There I’d watch the icon, one of the greatest athletes of his generation do things we could only imagine. 

Kobe’s confidence and belief were two of the biggest things I admired about this legend. His Mamba Mentality meant he was able to stand strong no matter what was thrown at him, and he would always get back to the top no matter what. That was the mindset I loved because belief beats everything.

As Kobe put it himself: “Everything negative – pressure, challenges  – are all an opportunity for me to rise.”

That mentality made Kobe one of the greatest of all time. Early in his career he was compared to Michael Jordan but he had the perfect response to those comparisons. He said “I don’t want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be Kobe Bryant.”

He went on to become the first player in NBA history to have at least 30,000 career points and 6,000 career assists, was the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer, and earned five titles which tied for the most in NBA history.

The world was rocked when the news broke that he had died. The tragic news was a shock, and at just 41 years old he had so much more joy to live for. His young daughter Gianna also lost her laugh in the accident, along with seven other passengers. We’re all thinking of them and their families and friends.

Kobe Bryant’s legacy will live on, and Mamba Mentality will continue to help so many people persevere and overcome their own challenges. The legend said it best:

“Have a good time. Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged. You have to keep moving. You have to keep going. Put one foot in front of the other, smile and just keep on rolling.” #MambaForever #mmlove