People gather around a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant after learning of his death at LA Live Plaza in front of the Staples Center in Los Angeles
People gather around a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant after learning of his death at LA Live Plaza in front of the Staples Center in Los Angeles AFP / Frederic J. Brown

KEY POINTS

  • Kobe Bryant was one of the best NBA players in history
  • Kobe Bryant's Mamba Mentality has influenced more than just NBA players
  • Boxer Manny Pacquiao urges everyone to pray for the victims of the tragic helicopter crash

Kobe Bryant and Gigi Bryant’s sudden passing has impacted the whole world. The devastating news of his helicopter crashing leaving a total of 9 victims has left a trail of tributes for the Laker legend.

The Black Mamba has been the main icon for the majority of athletes. He is a believer in the mindset of pushing your boundaries to greater heights. That is what Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality brought to the world: The quest for greatness.

The 18-time All-Star has achieved multiple accolades in the NBA and beyond the league. He is an author, an Academy Award winner and was a father. He’s been a figure for his daughter’s basketball team as he served as their coach in the Mamba Academy.

He’s known for pushing and supporting the future of women’s basketball and has even supported the WNBA. He recently shared that there are some players who can suit up in the NBA today.

His influence has ballooned even further than basketball and has affected athletes worldwide. This includes boxing world champion, Manny Pacquiao. Knowing that the Philippines have one of the bigger fan bases in basketball, the boxer turned senator shared how his home country of the Philippines loves Kobe Bryant.

The former Fighter of the Decade shared in Filipino how much he’s in disbelief over what happened. “I still can’t believe that my friend is gone, that my friend passed away.”

He then gave out his sympathies to the Bryant family. “We, the Filipino nation, offer our sympathies to one of our idols in basketball,” Pacquiao explained in Filipino. He further pleaded for prayers for the family and acknowledges the others included in the crash. “Let’s pray to God that they can move on and receive God,” the WBA welterweight champion shared.

It was a heartbreaking day for the sporting community and the world to lose one of the most influential athletes. They were reportedly on the way to Gigi Bryant’s basketball game before the tragedy. Kobe Bryant was 41 years old. His daughter Gigi was 13.

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