Basketball community mourns loss of Kobe Bryant
MIES (Switzerland) - FIBA and all of basketball mourns the loss of Kobe Bryant, an NBA and USA Basketball legend and a global icon of the sport, who embodied and shared his love for the game across the world.
Most recently a global ambassador for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China, Bryant was an Olympic gold medalist at both London 2012 and Beijing 2008, a FIBA Americas Championship winner in 2007 and five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bryant, 41, died in a helicopter accident north of Los Angeles on Sunday along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. Seven others on board were killed as they traveled to a junior basketball tournament where Bryant coached his daughter's team.
Bryant made his Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Games
Over his career for USA Basketball, Bryant's teams went undefeated (36-0) in three major tournaments and exhibition games.
Bryant ascended to the NBA directly from high school in 1996 and was immediately a big hit with the Lakers, the only team in the league he ever suited up for. He was named an All-Star in 18 of his 20 seasons and was honored with the Most Valuable Player Award for the 2007-08 season.
Bryant spent his entire NBA career with the Lakers
He was named the NBA Finals MVP in both 2009 and 2010 and achieved two scoring titles, with his 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in 2006 the second-highest single-game total in league history. Fourth among the league's all-time scorers, he was a 15-time member of the All-NBA Team and was also selected to the All-Defense team 12 times.
On his retirement, Bryant wrote a poem to the game he loved, titled Dear Basketball, which became an animated short film that was recognized with an Oscar in 2018 from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
I ran up and down every court
After every loose ball for you.
You asked for my hustle
I gave you my heart
Because it came with so much more.
But he transcended the frontiers of basketball and played a large role in making the game more global than ever before. His electrifying playing style and the well-documented passion for winning made him a basketball, cultural and fashion icon around the globe.
Having grown up in Italy, Bryant embraced his international background and managed to connect with fans all over the world like few others could.
Bryant loved basketball and the game loved him back.
Bryant was the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Global Ambassador
He was also one of the biggest advocates for women's sports, including women's basketball.
It wasn't only the basketball world that expressed grief over the tragic event. Among those paying tribute to Bryant and other victims were current and former world leaders, as well as icons in all sports.
Bryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and daughters Natalia Diamante, Bianka Bella and Capri Kobe.
FIBA
