“So I need you guys to pick up the slack for me and be doubly active.” It was a message that typified the boundless enthusiasm and civic spirit of this truly extraordinary athlete. During his recovery, he joined forces with the IOC ahead of International Olympic Day on 23 June, with a ‘call-out to people around the world to get involved: “I can’t run, I can’t jump and I can’t swim yet,” he said. ![]() Call to action for International Olympic DayĪfter beginning another fine NBA season for the Lakers, Kobe suffered a serious Achilles’ tendon injury in April 2013. Among the numerous highlights was a personal haul of 20 second-half points against Australia, which included four consecutive three-pointers, several decisive actions in the semi-final against Argentina, and 17 valuable points in the final against Spain, which helped secure a 107-100 victory and a second consecutive Olympic gold. “This will definitely be my last Olympic Games so it has a lot of symbolism to it.”Īs captain of Team USA, Bryant lit up the London stage with each one of his appearances. “It’s a huge honour for me, because I’ve always wanted to play for ,” he said, before revealing that London would be his Olympic swansong. At the age of 34, he then focused his attentions on helping Team USA defend their Olympic crown at London 2012. In 20, Bryant clinched his fourth and fifth NBA titles and was voted MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the final each time. In the final quarter, he scored 13 points, chipped in with three assists, and produced two vital blocks at the other end to help secure a 118-107 victory in what is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball matches of all time. With Team USA clinging to the most fragile of leads (91-89) with eight minutes left, Kobe went into overdrive, making his presence felt on every inch of the court. Bryant was in brilliant form throughout the tournament, not least in the final against Spain. Nicknamed “the Black Mamba”, Bryant and his co-star LeBron James were the leaders of the USA’s ‘Redeem Team’, which went to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing tasked with exorcising the demons of Athens 2004, where the USA had been eliminated in the semi-finals by Argentina. He would remain with the Lakers for the rest of his career, helping them to win five NBA titles and notching a record 30,000 points in the process. ![]() Having spent the early part of his childhood in Italy, where his father was playing for the Rieti club, in 1996, aged 18 and 158 days, Bryant became the youngest player in history to start a game in the NBA - the US professional basketball league - when he made his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers. By the age of three, he was already at home on the basketball court. ![]() Born to shoot hoopsīorn in Philadelphia, Kobe Bryant is the youngest of three offspring of former basketball player and coach, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant. He died tragically in a helicopter crash, at the age of 41, on 26 January 2020. On Sunday, Vanessa Bryant also announced the grand opening of The Kobe and Gianna Bryant Dream Court at Pearson Park in Anaheim.Regarded as one of the best American basketball players of all time, Kobe Bryant played a decisive role in Team USA’s Olympic triumphs of 20. Vanessa Bryant thanked him for it personally. Tehrell Porter, the artist behind the mural, posted photos of his latest creation on Instagram. Broadway, shows Gianna wearing her classic black and white Mamba jersey. Gianna, the daughter of Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, was born on May 1. (KABC) - Thousands of people honored the life of Gianna Bryant on what would've been her 16th birthday, and a new mural in downtown Los Angeles plus a "dream" basketball court in Anaheim are keeping her spirit alive. A new mural in downtown Los Angeles plus a "dream" basketball court in Anaheim were unveiled to honor the life of Gianna Bryant on what would've been her 16th birthday.ĪNAHEIM, Calif.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |