Hello my friends,
Today I want to start a two week column about symbols of NBA franchises.
About 21 days ago I wrote an article on Steemit about Kobe Bryant, four days later his birthday, and I want to start this column with my favourite NBA franchise and basketball player: LosAngeles Lakers and his symbol Kobe Bryant
In this post I'm going to write the traduction of that Steemit post
Who is Kobe Bryant?
I think that everyone, or almost, knows who we are talking about and we can say, without any problem, that Kobe is one of the most important player in the basketball history, a champion, a symbol, an idol, a sample to follow, a legend.
Let's start from the beginning:
Kobe was born in Philadelphia on 23 August 1978, but he spent his youth in Italy; here his father, Joe Bryant, played basketball and brought with him Kobe, who started playing basketball, and they moved trough Rieti, Reggio Calabria, Pistoia and in the end Reggio Emilia. After this period Kobe came back in USA and he attended a high school, immediately after he was already famous across the nation for his prowess.
First important stage in his life: 1996 Draft
Kobe was chosen by Charlotte Hornets, at the age of 17yo, as 13th pick, then he was traded with LosAngeles Lakers for the affirmed Vlade Divac.
The first 3 years of career were a growing up for Kobe: the first year he didn't find a lot of space in the franchise, the following year he closed it with 15.4 PPG (Point Per Game), in this way he proving to teammates, to the fans and opponents to be worth; the third year becomes the guard of the LA Lakers confirming himself as key player for the team.
The first years of the millennium are dominated by the Bryant-O'Neal couple who brings to Kobe the first 3 NBA titles (2000-01-02) and the affirmation as one of the most influential players in the league. Unfortunately in 2004, after a scandal that involved Kobe, the abovementioned couple broke out and O'Neal asked for the sale.
On 22 January 2006 he scores 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, in this way Kobe became the second player with more points in a single game.
After a few years of adjustment of the franchise in which Bryant showed his qualities; during 2008 the LAL returned to the Finals but unfortunately it lost against the Boston Celics; in the same year Kobe won the MVP (Most Valuable Player) title for the first time.
The following year Kobe won his fourth NBA title against the Orlando Magic and, moreover, won the Finals MVP title. In this period the extraordinary qualities of the Philadelpia boy are known to most of the people and he began to be considered a symbol of basketball.
In 2010, the world attended one of the beautiful series of finals ever, a remake of the 2008 Finals: Boston Celtic - Los Angeles Lakers. This time the California franchise won and Kobe won his fifth and last NBA title.
On 29 November 2015 Kobe wrote a letter, dedicated to his beloved sport, in this way he told to everyone that he played his last season during that year, the world feels lost after this announcement.
In his last NBA game, he played against Utha Jazz and he scored 60 points, he greeted the world of basketball with an unforgettable performance.
National Team
He won the FIBA Americas Championship 2007 in Las Vegas and he took home two gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics with the American national team. In this team he had to divide his job, with other high-caliber players like Lebron James, Jason Kidd, Kevin Durant and many other NBA stars; despite this he closed his period in the national team with an average of 13.6PPG
Stats and Awards
- 5 NBA Title
- 2 Olympic Gold
- 1 Regular Season MVP
- 2 Finals MVP
- 18 NBA AllStar
- 4 MVP NBA AllStar
- 1346 Games, 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 44.7% Shooting Percentage
It is unthinkable to write all the records that he broke, they are really an unimaginable amount and they are enough to confirm how much Kobe Bryant was great and an extraordinary player
Why do I want to talk about Kobe?
As a basketball player, from the age of 4, I have always had one and only basketball idol, just him, that phenomenon that thanks to his mentality can shock millions people.
His Mamba Mentality was a strong point of Kobe, which has always fascinated me; a willpower above all limits, able to push him above all limits, make him overcome every difficulty and problem. Perhaps it is thanks to this Mamba Mentality that he has become what it is now.
His last match was unforgettable, a mix of positive and negative emotions; the possibility to see those amazing last baskets of a legend made me moved, but also it made me think that I will no longer see my idol, my source of basketball inspiration on TV, the one who sent me the passion for basketball will not cross a more parquet.
AN ERA WAS FINISHED
Tell me what you think about this post, this column but also about Kobe.
Which franchise do you want to see next time?
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