It has been 30 days since Kobe Bryant and eight others, including his daughter Gianna, were killed in a helicopter crash.
On Monday there was a beautiful, poignant and at times lighthearted celebration of life for the Los Angeles Lakers legend and Gianna, but for many it still doesn’t quite seem real, the fact that a beloved basketball star has been taken just as he was starting to show the world that his post-playing career might have been as great as his on-court one.
We’ve also learned in the weeks since Bryant’s death that he wasn’t just an inspiration to young boys and girls with dreams of playing professional basketball — his Mamba Mentality and work ethic, his love of being a #GirlDad and insatiable curiosity influenced other highly successful athletes and celebrities.