You know, because of this, I just noticed I completely forgot about the 81 points anniversary. Whenever January 22nd came around, I always remembered that game. It was like an important birthday in my head, but this year I completely forgot about it, while at the same time I've been thinking how January 26th was approaching. Kinda sad how I ended up forgetting a day I used to celebrate Kobe every year and in exchange I'm constantly remember a day to mourn him. I've said this many times and I'll keep saying it forever: Following Kobe's basketball career was the biggest treat a Laker fan could get. It was not perfect, but it was incredibly fun and I wouldn't replace it for any other. And that said, Kobe somehow managed to become such an interesting person that following is post-career might have been just as exciting and probably even more memorable. This guy had a lot to give. He barely lived as a retired player and even then, those 4 years were amazing. 99% of the time, I don't give a damn about what pro athletes have to say about pretty much anything that's unrelated to their sport, but Kobe was the exception. The idea of an old Kobe Bryant talking about different stuff was something I was honestly looking forward to from way before this tragic accident, and I was pretty damn confident I was going to get that at some point (I mean, I am younger than Kobe, so I did expect to outlive him, but not this way). I think about this with relative frequency, and it's a real shame we will never get such a treat. Even if his life was cut short, he was pretty much a protagonist during a huge part of my life, and I'll keep watching Kobe clips (both of him playing and talking) for as long as my eyes, ears and brain allow me.
2 years and it hasn't gotten any easier and still doesn't seem real. i havent gotten my Kobe tattoo yet (its coming), but until then this will have to do. ordered nearly a year ago and they finally came in the mail the other day
You know, I can still barely look at this thread. I am still pained and sooooooo disappointed. I must be a selfish bastard because I feel the loss from what I could have witnessed in his post career. To this day, I believe that had he lived, one day we would be saying can you believe this guy used to be a basketball player!?!? I wanted that and I lost it. I'm a selfish bastard. Love looking back at his vids and hearing the announcers say: Koooobeeeeee Bryantttt!!!
I think future winners (including this year of course) are going to value that award and trophy even much more now because it has Kobe's name on it and knowing the history of just how good he was.
In a 2013 Trade Rumor the FO rejected a package of Klay, a center under contract, multiple draft picks for Dwight because Mitch and company wanted Harrison Barnes included in the deal.