Graphic by Ali Levens
Lifelong fans. Local diehards. Fellow coaches. Worldwide basketball lovers.
They will all remember Kobe Bean Bryant.
Better known by the singular “Kobe,” Bryant was a five-time NBA champion, two-time Most Valuable Player, 18-time NBA All-Star and a 20-year NBA veteran.
Every one of those 20 seasons was in the purple and gold of the Los Angeles Lakers, from his first game at age 18 to his 60-point performance in his final game.
However, the local community will remember Bryant for far more than his exhaustive list of accomplishments on the court.