IMPACT on L.A. Black History Month: Celebrating Kobe Bryant and L.A.

Last week marked the year anniversary of the passing of Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven other precious lives. Over the past year more than 200 murals commemorating Bryant have appeared throughout Los Angeles. This week is the start of Black History Month and who better to begin our recognition of African Americans who have had deep impact on L.A. than the beloved Kobe Bryant. 

As an athlete, Kobe Bryant accomplished Legendary status. In the 20 years he spent with the Lakers, Bryant won five NBA Championships, two NBA Finals MVP Awards, named 2008 NBA MVP and won the 1997 Slam Dunk Champion award. Additionally, he was an 18-time NBA All-Star, and 15-time All-NBA Team and 12-time NBA All-Defensive Team Selection. He also won 2 Olympic Gold Medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. These are just a few highlights of an extensive list of achievements Bryant earned throughout his basketball career. 

But as a person, Bryant’s Legacy lives vibrantly in the lives of Angelinos. His athlete journey took root in L.A., fans tuned in each week to witness the highs and lows of his career and watched Bryant grow. He became a part of the heartbeat of Los Angeles. His extraordinary work ethic garnered the attention of reporters, players, coaches and fans in which Bryant self-named ‘Mamba Mentality.’ When asked what this meant he explained, “Mamba mentality is all about focusing on the process and trusting in the hard work when it matters most." 

Maybe the most valuable quality of Bryant was his desire to share his knowledge with others, his first book, Kobe Bryant: The Mamba Mentality was intentioned so the next generation could learn what it really means to go after something and be inspired to achieve future greatness. His passion for others growth extended beyond his career goals and into the community of Los Angeles. Post NBA found Bryant coaching his daughter’s basketball team at Mamba Sports Academy (Now ‘The Sports Academy’), a training facility he partnered with to further others in sports. He helped bring more awareness to women’s basketball, formed a film company called Granity Studios to impact the imagination of young athletes by creating new ways to tell stories around sports, co-founded the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation (now ‘Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation’) to improve the lives of young people, their families and end youth homelessness in L.A., launched a podcast for Kids called The Punies to inspire listeners to reach their full potential – and the list goes on. 

The impact Bryant brought to L.A. transcends his accomplishments. It’s evident in the love the community carries for him in the wake of his passing. Thank you, Kobe Bryant. Thank you for your Leadership and not only setting an example to younger generations on what it looks like to go after your dreams and achieve your goals, but also for actively making it possible for youth to grow through your many programs and endeavors. Thank you, Kobe Bryant, for your IMPACT on L.A.