Dear Kobe,

1996, I was six years old playing YMCA basketball; at that age, it more hysteria then organized. My father was a die-hard lakers fan, always referencing Showtime. I only knew that I had to adorn the purple and gold. My earliest memories of the NBA are at six years old, and this time the lakers got you. 

You came into the league when I was six years old, a time when I was the overweight center for my YMCA basketball team. My only strengths were my single move was a drop-step layup. Of course, growing up in Los Angeles, I was a die-hard Lakers fan, the purple and gold are in the fabric of L.A. You knew the names West, Wilt, Magic Kareem, and now Shaq. But you were the enigma, traded for Divac, and right out of high school, we had only the praise of Jerry West to reassure us. You played the bench first two years, and as a fan watching you on the KCAL channel, I was ready for the moment to anoint you the next great one. I’ll admit I was never a fan of Del Harris, and as much as I loved Eddie Jones, I knew he was stifling your promise. I saw your airballs in Utah and the inevitable sweep. Shaq was the headline, but you were the story. Years later, would us Lakers fan learn the significance of that moment. 

 Then things changed Phil came in after the Vancouver Grizzles game. Del Harris never knew your potential and couldn’t handle the expectations of Los Angeles. It makes sense why he left and found himself in Dallas and became irrelevant where the only memorable moment is some staged fight between Mark Cuban and an official. Phil convinced me that you were on the verge of being the next Jordan. 

 Everyone knows the history of what happened you and Shaq won three in a row and then the subsequent year the loss against Spurs. Then Payton and Malone coming to the Detroit loss and the demise. That moment everyone wanted to keep Shaq, I wanted you. 

 A true hero is resilient, thrives in chaos, and embraces the shadow. It was in those years. Proceeding that was the hardest, seeing Lakers fail to make the playoffs, seeing Steve Nash get the MVP even after you were averaging 35 per game!! Then the Suns beating us, adding salt to the wound already. Then Gasol comes and two more championships. 

 We always read about mythological heroes like Achilles, Robin Hood, and Perseus. You are a hero to me, not for all the championships, but the conviction and failures. I have failed in my life and struggled. I knew the mentality as all L.A does you. 

You told us.” 

“I create my path. It was straight and narrow. I looked at it this way: you were either in my way or out of it. If you were standing between me and the game, I was going to knock you on your back and not feel bad about it. 

You did not leave a legacy, you left a guidebook, and for that, I am eternally grateful. In life, as we enter a new phase, we know that relentlessness and stubbornness set the path to greatness. Trust in the craft but work the process. 

Dear Kobe, you taught this L.A kid that a mentality transcends talent and achieves objectives