I was at the Lakers game in Minneapolis when he beat MJ's record in 2014. I feel so lucky to have seen him in action. Strangely I was close by when the accident happened as well, I saw the smoke from my balcony and at first, I thought it was just another LA fire.
Kobe was a combination of pure talent from hard work matched with an amazing determination and a philanthropic heart he was so loved by the whole of American public because of these characteristics.
I'm a Southern California native and watched his last game on local TV. Without a doubt, the most exciting thing I've ever seen. You hit it right on the head when you said it was the greatest last game of all time.
What a brilliant young lady!!! “You’re only seeing their highlights”!!!! Wonderful children you’re raising!! Critical thinkers are our best shot for the world!
I cried. I live here so those Lakers days were so exciting, even if you’re not a big sports fan. Cannot believe what happened to him and everyone on that chopper 😪
@@mchotsie4723 I'm from PA....about 20-30 minutes from where Kobe went to high school. When they show his reaction to Eagles winning Superbowl, I get so emotional. The whole crash was such a tragedy. ❤❤❤❤
@@jacobscott2828 Did you seriously just equate rape as "doing wrong" like he stole a candy bar? According to court documents, an examination of the woman at a hospital revealed a bruise on her neck and tears in her vaginal wall. Both her underwear and Bryant’s shirt were bloody. Bryant told the police he had not explicitly asked for consent. It wasn't until he settled the civil case and she signed an NDA that the charges were dropped because she wouldn't testify.
It was devasting when he, his daughter, and the others passed away. Any sudden accident like that really hits harder. It reminded me of Aaliyah and those on her plane. She was a young singer, I believe 21 at the time when her plane went down after shooting a music video. Bill Russell does not get as much credit in the talk of being the best by many people because he played way back when there were much less teams in the NBA. However, it depends how you look at it. Less teams means less chances of making the league; which also means the competition of each team might be fierce.
Love that you're going back with your family and watching these great players. You should really consider watching Kobe's most difficult shots video in a reaction video like this.
I had the great honor of watching Kobe play against my Sacramento Kings at Arco Arena in my hometown of Sacramento before they tore Arco Arena down. Kobe played great that game but the Kings still won. I saw Kobe make some great plays at that game. I feel so lucky and honored to have witnessed Kobe at least once before he was tragically taken from us. RIP Mamba!
It’s crazy because as I finished the video the time was 8:24 pm it was meant to be!! R.I.P Kobe and his daughter Gia and all of the other passengers on that helicopter. Love your content keep it up love my New Zealand family 🇳🇿
I saw Kobe Bryant's Last Home game in Los Angeles before he retired, I still have the ticket. R.I.P to him, he was an incredible player, definitely one of if not the best that ever played. And R.I.P to his daughter as well
Kobe gave himself the "Black Mamba" nickname after he saw kill bill. When Beatrice goes into her killing mode and you hear the music, Kobe explained that was what happens to him when he gets serious on the court. That was the birth of "Mamba Mode" and "Mamba mentality".
I remember when I got the news, I was at a family gathering at the park. Sitting in the car and scrolling on ig and see the news. I instantly started bawling, full blown crying.
We were visiting LA, doing Disneyland etc with our kids when we heard fire engines one morning. Had just arrived at an outlet mall and then the breaking news on everyone’s phones…billboards were quickly up ‘RIP KOBE’, it was very surreal, everyone, incl us, were just stunned. A very sad day. Then we returned home early Feb and the world shut down 😳
Thanks for this video. I'm around his age and grew up in LA. Needless to say, I idolized this guy. The Black Mamba nickname is really from the movie Kill Bill. A black mamba is a dangerous poisonous snake that can repeatedly strike and without provocation. He honestly gave the nickname to himself back in the mid 2000's. At that time, he had this web page with a fan club you could join. If you joined, you could access these forums on the website. He, or some of his people, just started spreading that nickname around on the forums at that time and it stuck.
I recommend watching the very short film "Dear Basketball" that Kobe had a part in. It's literally like 5 minutes. It will bring a tear to all y'alls eyes.
MY FAVORITE PLAYER OF ALL TIME AND GREW UP IN PHILADELPHIA WHERE I LIVE AND BORN HERE. HE WAS BEYOND JUST A IDOL FOR ME..... MAN I CAN EXPRESS ENOUGH HOW SKILLED AND SMART HE WAS ON AND OFF THE COURT... WON A OSCAR BASKETBALL
Really enjoying these videos. I’m a huge basketball fan (it was probably my first love growing up) and it’s really a unique and rewarding experience to see these reaction videos and get that perspective of people being introduced to the sport and some of the legends of the game and almost get to re-live that time of my life when I was first introduced to the game and how important it was for me. As far as rankings go, it’s always tough and pretty much impossible to compare across eras, and especially when there’s really no finite objective standard for measuring greatness. But that’s what makes it fun, it’s all subjective and different people will value different things in their personal rankings. You mentioned Bill Russell and there are plenty of people who will claim him as the best ever because they’ll use championships won as their most dispositive metric. For me, personally, my “Mount Rushmore” includes Jordan, Kobe, and LeBron but that 4th position has never truly been solidified for me. Sometimes I’ll think it’s Wilt Chamberlain (who holds the record for most points 100 scored in a single game and most rebounds 55 in a game) and was just a physical force that was unequaled in his era (he was a 7 foot plus athlete that was stronger and could jump higher than anyone in his day playing during a time when the average tallest guy on most teams’ roster was probably about 6’6”). Other days I’ll think it’s Bill Russell or Kareem. I think Steph is knocking on the door for that fourth spot for me though and could solidify it depending on how the rest of his career goes. I think I value guys who revolutionized and changed the game higher than other things in my own subjective list of criteria and the modern game’s 3 point revolution is mostly credited to him and he’s hands down the best shooter I’ve ever seen. If pressed to rank the 3 of Jordan, LeBron, and Kobe, it’s really tough for me. Your point about Jordan being the baseline and the comparison for many modern players is an important one and worth expanding on. The biggest thing in my opinion that Michael Jordan has going for him is that there will never be a guy to have so popularized and promoted the game as he did on a global scale. What he and that 1992 Dream Team did for basketball on an international scale (but MJ especially) will never be matched. He came first and helped grow the game in such a profound way and even if you personally believe that another guy was more skilled than he was, nobody else can touch his influence on the sport and it’s growth or popularity. If I’m trying to leave that aside and rank them purely on skills or athletic ability or merit as a basketball player alone, it’s tough because he and LeBron are very dissimilar players, whereas Kobe (RIP) was like a carbon copy of Jordan. Kobe idolized Jordan and molded his game after him, had the same competitive spirit and obsessive passion to be the best, their mentality was so similar. And I think some people knock Kobe for being the second iteration of the original in their rankings, but you could argue Kobe was a more fluid and skilled version of the original. I give the nod to Jordan between them, but it’s much closer to me than most people probably have them. I can’t separate entirely the importance Jordan had on the growth of the game at large and the fact that he was the original. I don’t know if Kobe would have become the “Kobe” we got to witness if not for Jordan to chase. I think chasing Jordan was a huge motivator for Kobe and we were privileged to witness both of them play. I will say that I grew up in the Kobe era or the generation that considers Kobe “their Jordan” and I know a lot more about him than Jordan and Kobe was such a special mind and personality to the game, too, though, so I liked and revered him more than Jordan. He was a step ahead and an absolute tactician and student of the game. Constantly evolving and getting better, looking for ways to improve and get a leg up on everyone else around him. Incredibly smart (multilingual - not many American players would be as fluent and confident in their mastery of other languages to understand international opponents’ play calls or engage in talking trash with them in a foreign language). He was a really special person and was poised to be an even greater star outside of his playing days and was just a tremendous loss way too soon, unfortunately. I personally put LeBron above them both, though, in a pure “basketball talent” list. It’s the combination of physical gifts (LeBron taller and stronger than both), longevity (this is his biggest superpower trait, no one will eclipse his longevity and how long his “peak form” lasted; even if Jordan never quit to play baseball, he would not have sustained the same level of physical fitness and success for as long as LeBron has in part due to the advances in modern sports medicine and fitness but also because LeBron has taken that more seriously than probably any NBA athlete has before), and then lastly his versatility on the court that does it for me and puts him above Jordan in my personal ranking. Coming out of high school, LeBron’s best attribute was actually his court vision and passing and court management ability. He was a passing savant and more accurately compared to Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan. Jordan was an alpha personality wired to score and bully everyone else in his path (opponents and teammates alike into submission). LeBron was much more affable and sociable and wanted to get teammates involved and wasn’t necessarily wired to score as Jordan and Kobe were. He had the body and physicality and athleticism to take over games and just physically punish opponents all game long and rack up points if he wanted to. But I think LeBron valued playmaking for others and ball movement much more than isolation scoring like Jordan and Kobe did. All three are or were elite defenders and two way players, but whereas Jordan and Kobe were more ball dominant wing players that could play the 1-3 (1 = point guard, 2 = shooting guard and 3 = small/wing forward) but were both more apt as either a 2 guard or 3 wing forward, LeBron with his combination of physical size, athleticism and skill set can legitimately play every single position on the court 1-5 and be the best player at that position and also guard every position on the court if necessary for stretches. That holds huge value for me, personally. It’s pretty crazy to think about, but he came into the league more hyped for his passing abilities than his scoring and now he already holds the record for most career points scored in NBA history (without even really focusing or trying to be a ball dominant scorer). That’s a testament to his longevity and also his talent and skill. He’s going to finish his career as the league’s all time scoring leader and also in the top four in assists! As far as other potential players to check out if you’re looking for suggestions, I would definitely recommend Steph Curry but also, I’m thinking from the standpoint of some of the more purely entertaining aspects of the game, for me it is both the jaw-dropping dunks that everyone loves, but also the ball handling and dribbling skills and wizardry of some players. For the former list, you’ve already seen some of LeBron and Jordan who are up there in the hierarchy of all time dunkers, but I’d recommend Shawn Kemp, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Blake Griffin, Dominique Wilkins, Zion Williamson, and Vince Carter for dunking highlights. For the ball handling, Jason “White Chocolate” Williams, “Pistol” Pete Maravich (old school, not sure how much footage would be available or high quality), Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford, Steph Curry, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, Isiah Thomas, and Kyrie Irving are in my estimation the best ball handlers to play (Irving’s handles are other-worldly).
I remember back in 2006 -2008, Kobe was so dominant that ESPN would regularly interview players from other teams in their locker rooms who were getting ready to play their own games and they'd be at the lockers with eyes glued to the television trying to find out what amazing thing Kobe pulled off that night. He was simply unguardable. It was criminal the team Jim Buss surrounded Kobe with when he took over. Smush "G League" Parker, Kwame "Biggest NBA Bust of All time" Brown, & Luke "How the Heck Do I actually have an NBA job?" Walton. Those 3 couldn't even make it as role players on any other team, yet Kobe was so dominant that he was able to drag that cast of misfits into the playoffs and came withing 30 seconds of the greatest upset in playoff history. Greatest work ethic in the history of all sports. The guy literally use to push himself so hard in workouts that he would actually blackout, then when the trainer would give him smelling salts to wake him up, he'd continue working out more. Dislocated his finger in a game and doesn't even bother going to the locker room, but instead has the trainer pull it back into place, tape it to the next finger, and go right back out and continue playing. A ruptures his Achilles tendon and still limps to the free trow line and hit a free throw, then refuses to be carted to the locker room, but rather walks off limping dragging his foot. Definition of a true warrior!
A class act? He was a rapist. According to court documents, an examination of the woman at a hospital revealed a bruise on her neck and tears in her vaginal wall. Both her underwear and Bryant’s shirt were bloody. Bryant told the police he had not explicitly asked for consent. It wasn't until Kobe settled with the victim that she told prosecutors she would no longer testify because of a NDA.
Im blessed i got to grow up a lakers fan in southern california in the 90s. Kobe was a superhero to me. He will always be a legend. And he will always be missed by millions
'I thought you weren't allowed to run with the ball.' Very astute observation from the young man. Refs in the NBA are hesitant to call traveling violations on star players.
It’s actually insane how history this night was. Going on at the same time was the golden state warriors beating Jordan’s record for the most wins a season. Both of these historic games were happening simultaneously it was amazing to witness
I love how a family in New Zealand has stumbled into the neverending GOAT debate that millions of sports fans in America have every single day. There is no wrong answer but mine is absolutely Kobe. One thing this video didn't show was how tough he was and the amount of injuries he battled through. His pointer finger on his shooting hand was broken when they won the Championship in 2010. And he once tore his achilles heel but still walked out onto the court to take his free throw shots. To answer your question about his nickname, he basically gave it to himself but it is due to his legendary work ethic and killer mentality on the court. He was always the first one in and the last one out of the gym for practice. He would will his team to wins. He coined the phrase "Mamba Mentality" and it basically means always being the best version of yourself, always putting in the hard work, and never quitting. After he retired from basketball he won an Oscar for a documentary and wrote a series of children's novels.
Dang I wish you guys had a better highlight reel! That one didn’t truly show you how good he was especially in his prime! He was unreal and made basketball look like poetry! Didn’t do him Justice!
Giannis Antetokounpo (also known as The Greek Freak) is a current top basketball player known for massive slam dunks and crazy athleticism. For baseball, you might want to watch a compilation of greatest catches, home plate collisions, or inside the park home runs. Those are some of the most exciting types of plays that happen in baseball games.
It was actually Kobe Bryant himself that came up with the nickname Black Mamba. It was during a time when he was going through some personal issues off the court (marital indiscretions) that became very public. He got the name from the movie Kill Bill and used it as an alter ego to separate his professional life from his personal life. An idea for another reaction video would be Wayne Gretzky. Like Michael Jordan in basketball, he is basically universally considered to be the greatest hockey player of all time.
I love that you said he was really good at three pointers, dunking. He was really good at everything including the midrange and post game, he is my GOAT. RIP Gigi and Bean.
15:52 Bill Russell won 11 championships (8 in a row) in 13 years, mostly because there wasn't a lot of competition. There were only 8 teams in the league in the late 50s and only 10 teams in the late 60s (versus 30 teams today), so the playoffs boiled down to basically the same 4 teams every year and Boston's team was the most talented. That said, Russell and his Celtics still had to deal with the most dominant player of the era in Wilt Chamberlain, and were only able to do that because Russell was such a great defender and team player. Bill Russell's name was prominent in the GOAT conversation up until Michael Jordan laid claim to the title.
His talent was as unmatchable as his determination. He tore his Achilles tendon during a game, walked out onto the court to make his free throws before he went back to the locker room for medical. He was and forever will be the Greatest of All Time. Lost too soon!
Couple of things for you guys w/ regard to the sport of basketball: 1) Kobe was indeed a special talent, but also the work that he put in to master his craft was also insane. In regard to his nickname, black mamba, it was indeed due to his style of play. He was absolutely lethal on the court, and his mentality was one of striking whenever an opening presented itself, even against established legends like MJ (look up his first All Star game, he went straight at Jordan practically the whole game). 2) Bill Russell actually won 11 championships, not 15. But the reason his championships aren't considered as impactful is because in the era he played in, there were only like 10 teams in the entire league (the NBA expanded later). Also, Russell didn't score a whole lot for his career average, but he was an incredible defender who could keep just about anyone from scoring. 3) One of the main reasons Michael Jordan is still hailed as the standard to which all other players are compared, is because of his impact on the game. Many players modeled their style of play after him. From Allen Iverson to Lebron James, and this was especially true of Kobe, who admitted that everything he displayed on the court came from MJ (he admired Jordan but wanted to surpass him as well).
I highly recommend on the NBA You Tube channel the Larry Bird ultimate mixtape. He was another amazing player who played for the Boston Celtics in the 70s and 80s.
The man who made me watch and play basketball. His killer mentality and swag was captivating. Steph may be my favorite ever but Kobe will always have a special place in my heart. Rip Mamba
Kobe’s death has been the only celebrity death (so far) to make me not only cry, but weep …which didn’t happen till late at night after finally coming to the realization that him and his daughter (as well as everyone else on the helicopter) were gone
Kobe was such an incredible player and one of the greatest winners of all-time. He did whatever he could to win and was arguably the most dedicated NBA player ever alongside MJ. RIP Kobe. The NBA lost a light on that dreaded day, but thankfully we have footage of you to look back on whenever needed ❤
In a 2018 story by Kent Babb for The Washington Post, Bryant explained how he happened upon the black mamba for his alter ego when he was watching Quentin Tarantino's movie, "Kill Bill," during which an assassin used a black mamba to kill another character. Thats Why Hes Called The Black Mamba. R.I.P MAMBA
I am watching this for you and Kobe I looked up to him has a kid he inspired me to be a basketball player ♥we miss him very much but he will always be in our hearts
I have always been…and will always be, a Lakers fan… God bless all the players…🙏🏻❤️ Loved watching Jerry West and the rest of the team…back in the day…❤ ❤🏀 Zeke from Cabin Creek…
I think Kobe will always be my favorite. Grew up watching him and in my mind will go down as the most clutch player of all time. Countless fadeaway jumpers at the buzzer to win it. Kobe’s fadeaway jumper is like Griffey Jr’s swing in baseball.
You should really check out Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics He was great !!! Even Ervine Magic Johnson said Larry Bird was the greatest player ever in the NBA
*GUYS LOVE YOUR CHANNEL AND FAMILY* !! Been SUBSCRIBED since it was just Kiwi Kicker.! Your next should 1000% be *Larry Bird* ! Do his ultimate mixtape.! Trust me on this.......
"I thought you weren't allowed to run with the ball." What a great observation. Referees have been so lenient on the traveling call. The move was illegal. Yet the refs don't call it. It is one of the reasons that I don't watch professional basketball any longer. Bryant was one of the worst at traveling with the ball. Yet he was almost never called. Now, I think he was a great person. When he and his daughter died in the crash, I wrote something like, "What a great way to end it. He was having a Daddy/Daughter Day. I have loved those moments with my daughters. I never want it to end this way. But he was being a wonderful father." If you want basketball greatness, look at Larry Bird. I remember coach Red Aurbach saying, "When Bird is on the court, 4 other players are better." That was when Bird was starting a championship game while at 90% due to injuries. Bryant was good. Bird was awesome.
Now that you are doing the NBA greats, you need to watch the "best all-around ball player in NBA history" who had the highest IQ of the game than anybody! Watch the Larry Bird Ultimate Mixed-Tape. Shooter, passer, play maker, trash-talker, clutch player, the list is long. Larry Legend! Nobody could stop him!!
Some legendary basketball players, magic Johnson and Larry bird. The two people who saved the nba. A boxing legend, someone who has never lost is Floyd mayweather
How was he great? His time? People weren’t that athletic and only there mainly for the paycheck? Bird was good but no Jordan or Kobe. Imagine how good he would have been with Kobe’s or Jordan’s determination and work ethic? That’s why I don’t respect bird. Looked like one. Wasn’t fit and didn’t care other than that 9-5. Gifted, but back then, was a lot easier to get drafted or signed than today. 100% facts
Larry Bird said that Magic was the best player that he ever played against. He called him the best and I have a tendency to agree with the magic. Was something special but Kobe was from another planet like Michael
Michael, Kobe, then LeBron in that order of greatness. But don't forget the 4 most dominant centers. Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem, & Shaq, in no particular order. Those deserve to be mentioned for greatness. It's hard to mention who is the greatest. Every position has their great ones. I love Kobe for his work ethic that no one else has. First to practice, last to leave. No other player does that today.
@@jesuswantfreebobux8848 sorry my bad, only after MJ's first retirement. Who knows what would have happened. Burnout or career ending injury. What's done is done. Aleem deserves being mentioned.
Bill Russell is never discussed because players look at him as a civil rights hero, inspirational player. He's definitely one of the greatest. He just lives on his own cloud. Him and Kareem get overlooked because they were older but he was my favorite person in sports.
They don't discuss him because there were 8 teams in the league when he won 11 rings.. he's still talked about as one of the best defenders and the greatest winner
Being young and watching Jerry Rice and Joe Montana dominate was incredible to watch. Rice will always be my favorite wide receiver. I would have to say being from Green Bay, Brett Favre and Bart Starr are my favorite quarterbacks.
Yeah Kobe Bryant is one of the few celebrities that I cried for he's the second most iconic player that got me into basketball his Charity funded my childhood basketball program and my friend soccer program when were children
I was so lucky to be at Kobe's final game. The whole building was so electric. R.I.P to Kobe and Gigi...❤
i was lucky to witness his finals game as well via highlights on youtube. Legendary player and my generations Michael Jordan.
I was at the Lakers game in Minneapolis when he beat MJ's record in 2014. I feel so lucky to have seen him in action. Strangely I was close by when the accident happened as well, I saw the smoke from my balcony and at first, I thought it was just another LA fire.
I was there too!! 😊
i was in the sweets during his 80 point game crazy yo
Kobe was a combination of pure talent from hard work matched with an amazing determination and a philanthropic heart he was so loved by the whole of American public because of these characteristics.
The Black Mamba is my favorite player of all time, he and his family will forever be missed. RIP
I'm a Southern California native and watched his last game on local TV. Without a doubt, the most exciting thing I've ever seen. You hit it right on the head when you said it was the greatest last game of all time.
I’m from Los Angeles. Born and raised. I cried so many days, when we lost Kobe
U have a beautiful family, sending blessings from an indigenous tribe of America..❤
What a brilliant young lady!!! “You’re only seeing their highlights”!!!! Wonderful children you’re raising!! Critical thinkers are our best shot for the world!
RIP Kobe & Gia ❤💔
Hard to watch without crying.
I cried. I live here so those Lakers days were so exciting, even if you’re not a big sports fan. Cannot believe what happened to him and everyone on that chopper 😪
@@Facetiously.Esoteric I don’t believe that every man accused of rape is guilty…..
@@mchotsie4723
I'm from PA....about 20-30 minutes from where Kobe went to high school. When they show his reaction to Eagles winning Superbowl, I get so emotional. The whole crash was such a tragedy. ❤❤❤❤
Yea same and I'm a Cavs fan and I teared up seeing his family. He was such a good dude and it was so sad the day he passed away.
RIP to the great Kobe Bryant and all who passed away that day. Hero’s come and go. Legends are forever ❤
Who passed away that day? You such at speackes my man.
@@ginger_nosoul 🤣
@@ginger_nosoulol.. in think they're referring to Kobe and his daughter and everybody else in the helicopter
@@ginger_nosoul Huh??
What about the rape of a woman
As an American, watching any tribute to Kobe hits us different,,,,RIP Kobe
RIP Kobe bryant, not only a good player but a good person
Good people don't get arrested for rape.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant_sexual_assault_case
Do good people cheat on their wives?
@@Rockhound6165are you free of wrong doing?
@@jacobscott2828 Did you seriously just equate rape as "doing wrong" like he stole a candy bar?
According to court documents, an examination of the woman at a hospital revealed a bruise on her neck and tears in her vaginal wall. Both her underwear and Bryant’s shirt were bloody. Bryant told the police he had not explicitly asked for consent.
It wasn't until he settled the civil case and she signed an NDA that the charges were dropped because she wouldn't testify.
A good rapist as well ❤️
You dont even have to hoop to see his game was like poetry. So smooth, every little details so carefully refined through hours and hours of practice.
It was devasting when he, his daughter, and the others passed away. Any sudden accident like that really hits harder. It reminded me of Aaliyah and those on her plane. She was a young singer, I believe 21 at the time when her plane went down after shooting a music video.
Bill Russell does not get as much credit in the talk of being the best by many people because he played way back when there were much less teams in the NBA. However, it depends how you look at it. Less teams means less chances of making the league; which also means the competition of each team might be fierce.
RIP Kobe I’m from the generation who really watched every game.. My 2nd favorite player all time
Love that you're going back with your family and watching these great players. You should really consider watching Kobe's most difficult shots video in a reaction video like this.
I can’t stop crying…an Amazing talent super god man!!! Miss you! RIP
I had the great honor of watching Kobe play against my Sacramento Kings at Arco Arena in my hometown of Sacramento before they tore Arco Arena down. Kobe played great that game but the Kings still won. I saw Kobe make some great plays at that game. I feel so lucky and honored to have witnessed Kobe at least once before he was tragically taken from us. RIP Mamba!
It’s crazy because as I finished the video the time was 8:24 pm it was meant to be!! R.I.P Kobe and his daughter Gia and all of the other passengers on that helicopter. Love your content keep it up love my New Zealand family 🇳🇿
Awesome guys! Great seeing people being introduced and appreciating the Mamba. He is the peoples champ!
I still get teary eyed watching Kobe videos he has always been my favorite player and someone I looked up to RIP
The way he played in every game is a great honor that you all are watching him. MAMBA 💛💜
I saw Kobe Bryant's Last Home game in Los Angeles before he retired, I still have the ticket. R.I.P to him, he was an incredible player, definitely one of if not the best that ever played. And R.I.P to his daughter as well
Kobe gave himself the "Black Mamba" nickname after he saw kill bill. When Beatrice goes into her killing mode and you hear the music, Kobe explained that was what happens to him when he gets serious on the court. That was the birth of "Mamba Mode" and "Mamba mentality".
I remember when I got the news, I was at a family gathering at the park. Sitting in the car and scrolling on ig and see the news. I instantly started bawling, full blown crying.
We were visiting LA, doing Disneyland etc with our kids when we heard fire engines one morning. Had just arrived at an outlet mall and then the breaking news on everyone’s phones…billboards were quickly up ‘RIP KOBE’, it was very surreal, everyone, incl us, were just stunned. A very sad day. Then we returned home early Feb and the world shut down 😳
Los Angeles probably has around 100 painted Kobe murals around the city. You can actually find a map of all of them online.
Thanks for this video. I'm around his age and grew up in LA. Needless to say, I idolized this guy.
The Black Mamba nickname is really from the movie Kill Bill. A black mamba is a dangerous poisonous snake that can repeatedly strike and without provocation.
He honestly gave the nickname to himself back in the mid 2000's. At that time, he had this web page with a fan club you could join. If you joined, you could access these forums on the website. He, or some of his people, just started spreading that nickname around on the forums at that time and it stuck.
I recommend watching the very short film "Dear Basketball" that Kobe had a part in. It's literally like 5 minutes. It will bring a tear to all y'alls eyes.
MY FAVORITE PLAYER OF ALL TIME AND GREW UP IN PHILADELPHIA WHERE I LIVE AND BORN HERE. HE WAS BEYOND JUST A IDOL FOR ME..... MAN I CAN EXPRESS ENOUGH HOW SKILLED AND SMART HE WAS ON AND OFF THE COURT... WON A OSCAR BASKETBALL
I think you would enjoy watching a video on the Harlem Globetrotters, and about The Dream Team - basketball greats that played in the Olympics.
Really enjoying these videos. I’m a huge basketball fan (it was probably my first love growing up) and it’s really a unique and rewarding experience to see these reaction videos and get that perspective of people being introduced to the sport and some of the legends of the game and almost get to re-live that time of my life when I was first introduced to the game and how important it was for me.
As far as rankings go, it’s always tough and pretty much impossible to compare across eras, and especially when there’s really no finite objective standard for measuring greatness. But that’s what makes it fun, it’s all subjective and different people will value different things in their personal rankings. You mentioned Bill Russell and there are plenty of people who will claim him as the best ever because they’ll use championships won as their most dispositive metric. For me, personally, my “Mount Rushmore” includes Jordan, Kobe, and LeBron but that 4th position has never truly been solidified for me. Sometimes I’ll think it’s Wilt Chamberlain (who holds the record for most points 100 scored in a single game and most rebounds 55 in a game) and was just a physical force that was unequaled in his era (he was a 7 foot plus athlete that was stronger and could jump higher than anyone in his day playing during a time when the average tallest guy on most teams’ roster was probably about 6’6”). Other days I’ll think it’s Bill Russell or Kareem. I think Steph is knocking on the door for that fourth spot for me though and could solidify it depending on how the rest of his career goes. I think I value guys who revolutionized and changed the game higher than other things in my own subjective list of criteria and the modern game’s 3 point revolution is mostly credited to him and he’s hands down the best shooter I’ve ever seen.
If pressed to rank the 3 of Jordan, LeBron, and Kobe, it’s really tough for me. Your point about Jordan being the baseline and the comparison for many modern players is an important one and worth expanding on. The biggest thing in my opinion that Michael Jordan has going for him is that there will never be a guy to have so popularized and promoted the game as he did on a global scale. What he and that 1992 Dream Team did for basketball on an international scale (but MJ especially) will never be matched. He came first and helped grow the game in such a profound way and even if you personally believe that another guy was more skilled than he was, nobody else can touch his influence on the sport and it’s growth or popularity. If I’m trying to leave that aside and rank them purely on skills or athletic ability or merit as a basketball player alone, it’s tough because he and LeBron are very dissimilar players, whereas Kobe (RIP) was like a carbon copy of Jordan. Kobe idolized Jordan and molded his game after him, had the same competitive spirit and obsessive passion to be the best, their mentality was so similar. And I think some people knock Kobe for being the second iteration of the original in their rankings, but you could argue Kobe was a more fluid and skilled version of the original. I give the nod to Jordan between them, but it’s much closer to me than most people probably have them. I can’t separate entirely the importance Jordan had on the growth of the game at large and the fact that he was the original. I don’t know if Kobe would have become the “Kobe” we got to witness if not for Jordan to chase. I think chasing Jordan was a huge motivator for Kobe and we were privileged to witness both of them play. I will say that I grew up in the Kobe era or the generation that considers Kobe “their Jordan” and I know a lot more about him than Jordan and Kobe was such a special mind and personality to the game, too, though, so I liked and revered him more than Jordan. He was a step ahead and an absolute tactician and student of the game. Constantly evolving and getting better, looking for ways to improve and get a leg up on everyone else around him. Incredibly smart (multilingual - not many American players would be as fluent and confident in their mastery of other languages to understand international opponents’ play calls or engage in talking trash with them in a foreign language). He was a really special person and was poised to be an even greater star outside of his playing days and was just a tremendous loss way too soon, unfortunately.
I personally put LeBron above them both, though, in a pure “basketball talent” list. It’s the combination of physical gifts (LeBron taller and stronger than both), longevity (this is his biggest superpower trait, no one will eclipse his longevity and how long his “peak form” lasted; even if Jordan never quit to play baseball, he would not have sustained the same level of physical fitness and success for as long as LeBron has in part due to the advances in modern sports medicine and fitness but also because LeBron has taken that more seriously than probably any NBA athlete has before), and then lastly his versatility on the court that does it for me and puts him above Jordan in my personal ranking.
Coming out of high school, LeBron’s best attribute was actually his court vision and passing and court management ability. He was a passing savant and more accurately compared to Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan. Jordan was an alpha personality wired to score and bully everyone else in his path (opponents and teammates alike into submission). LeBron was much more affable and sociable and wanted to get teammates involved and wasn’t necessarily wired to score as Jordan and Kobe were. He had the body and physicality and athleticism to take over games and just physically punish opponents all game long and rack up points if he wanted to. But I think LeBron valued playmaking for others and ball movement much more than isolation scoring like Jordan and Kobe did. All three are or were elite defenders and two way players, but whereas Jordan and Kobe were more ball dominant wing players that could play the 1-3 (1 = point guard, 2 = shooting guard and 3 = small/wing forward) but were both more apt as either a 2 guard or 3 wing forward, LeBron with his combination of physical size, athleticism and skill set can legitimately play every single position on the court 1-5 and be the best player at that position and also guard every position on the court if necessary for stretches. That holds huge value for me, personally. It’s pretty crazy to think about, but he came into the league more hyped for his passing abilities than his scoring and now he already holds the record for most career points scored in NBA history (without even really focusing or trying to be a ball dominant scorer). That’s a testament to his longevity and also his talent and skill. He’s going to finish his career as the league’s all time scoring leader and also in the top four in assists!
As far as other potential players to check out if you’re looking for suggestions, I would definitely recommend Steph Curry but also, I’m thinking from the standpoint of some of the more purely entertaining aspects of the game, for me it is both the jaw-dropping dunks that everyone loves, but also the ball handling and dribbling skills and wizardry of some players. For the former list, you’ve already seen some of LeBron and Jordan who are up there in the hierarchy of all time dunkers, but I’d recommend Shawn Kemp, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Blake Griffin, Dominique Wilkins, Zion Williamson, and Vince Carter for dunking highlights. For the ball handling, Jason “White Chocolate” Williams, “Pistol” Pete Maravich (old school, not sure how much footage would be available or high quality), Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford, Steph Curry, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, Isiah Thomas, and Kyrie Irving are in my estimation the best ball handlers to play (Irving’s handles are other-worldly).
I remember back in 2006 -2008, Kobe was so dominant that ESPN would regularly interview players from other teams in their locker rooms who were getting ready to play their own games and they'd be at the lockers with eyes glued to the television trying to find out what amazing thing Kobe pulled off that night. He was simply unguardable. It was criminal the team Jim Buss surrounded Kobe with when he took over. Smush "G League" Parker, Kwame "Biggest NBA Bust of All time" Brown, & Luke "How the Heck Do I actually have an NBA job?" Walton. Those 3 couldn't even make it as role players on any other team, yet Kobe was so dominant that he was able to drag that cast of misfits into the playoffs and came withing 30 seconds of the greatest upset in playoff history. Greatest work ethic in the history of all sports. The guy literally use to push himself so hard in workouts that he would actually blackout, then when the trainer would give him smelling salts to wake him up, he'd continue working out more. Dislocated his finger in a game and doesn't even bother going to the locker room, but instead has the trainer pull it back into place, tape it to the next finger, and go right back out and continue playing. A ruptures his Achilles tendon and still limps to the free trow line and hit a free throw, then refuses to be carted to the locker room, but rather walks off limping dragging his foot. Definition of a true warrior!
I was at Kobe’s final game! Amazing! I haven’t high fived and hugged so many strangers in my life!!
A class act on and off the court! RIP Kobe & daughter ❤️🇺🇸
A class act? He was a rapist.
According to court documents, an examination of the woman at a hospital revealed a bruise on her neck and tears in her vaginal wall. Both her underwear and Bryant’s shirt were bloody. Bryant told the police he had not explicitly asked for consent.
It wasn't until Kobe settled with the victim that she told prosecutors she would no longer testify because of a NDA.
Im blessed i got to grow up a lakers fan in southern california in the 90s. Kobe was a superhero to me. He will always be a legend. And he will always be missed by millions
'I thought you weren't allowed to run with the ball.' Very astute observation from the young man. Refs in the NBA are hesitant to call traveling violations on star players.
Good player, Good Person, every kid’s hero/icon, but more importantly, all time legend.
R.I.P
It’s actually insane how history this night was. Going on at the same time was the golden state warriors beating Jordan’s record for the most wins a season. Both of these historic games were happening simultaneously it was amazing to witness
I'm a spurs fan since i was born, but that suns shirt is incredible and I'd wear it. Class
Kobe
I love how a family in New Zealand has stumbled into the neverending GOAT debate that millions of sports fans in America have every single day. There is no wrong answer but mine is absolutely Kobe. One thing this video didn't show was how tough he was and the amount of injuries he battled through. His pointer finger on his shooting hand was broken when they won the Championship in 2010. And he once tore his achilles heel but still walked out onto the court to take his free throw shots. To answer your question about his nickname, he basically gave it to himself but it is due to his legendary work ethic and killer mentality on the court. He was always the first one in and the last one out of the gym for practice. He would will his team to wins. He coined the phrase "Mamba Mentality" and it basically means always being the best version of yourself, always putting in the hard work, and never quitting. After he retired from basketball he won an Oscar for a documentary and wrote a series of children's novels.
R.I.P Mamba youll always be remebered
Dang I wish you guys had a better highlight reel! That one didn’t truly show you how good he was especially in his prime! He was unreal and made basketball look like poetry! Didn’t do him Justice!
Giannis Antetokounpo (also known as The Greek Freak) is a current top basketball player known for massive slam dunks and crazy athleticism.
For baseball, you might want to watch a compilation of greatest catches, home plate collisions, or inside the park home runs. Those are some of the most exciting types of plays that happen in baseball games.
To be in the building that’ day was phenomenal
It was an out of this world / out of body experience.
Wow, I get goosebumps everytime I see this game
It was actually Kobe Bryant himself that came up with the nickname Black Mamba. It was during a time when he was going through some personal issues off the court (marital indiscretions) that became very public. He got the name from the movie Kill Bill and used it as an alter ego to separate his professional life from his personal life. An idea for another reaction video would be Wayne Gretzky. Like Michael Jordan in basketball, he is basically universally considered to be the greatest hockey player of all time.
Love how Denzel called him out for traveling at the very beginning. Lol
I love that you said he was really good at three pointers, dunking.
He was really good at everything including the midrange and post game, he is my GOAT.
RIP Gigi and Bean.
15:52 Bill Russell won 11 championships (8 in a row) in 13 years, mostly because there wasn't a lot of competition. There were only 8 teams in the league in the late 50s and only 10 teams in the late 60s (versus 30 teams today), so the playoffs boiled down to basically the same 4 teams every year and Boston's team was the most talented. That said, Russell and his Celtics still had to deal with the most dominant player of the era in Wilt Chamberlain, and were only able to do that because Russell was such a great defender and team player.
Bill Russell's name was prominent in the GOAT conversation up until Michael Jordan laid claim to the title.
goosebumps for me throughout watching this video, incredible basketball player. As close to perfect poasible.
His talent was as unmatchable as his determination. He tore his Achilles tendon during a game, walked out onto the court to make his free throws before he went back to the locker room for medical. He was and forever will be the Greatest of All Time. Lost too soon!
everything you named, Jordan has on him in spades.
I stopped watching and playing basketball all together because of kobe, grew up watching him in LA ❤ watching this got me teary
Couple of things for you guys w/ regard to the sport of basketball: 1) Kobe was indeed a special talent, but also the work that he put in to master his craft was also insane. In regard to his nickname, black mamba, it was indeed due to his style of play. He was absolutely lethal on the court, and his mentality was one of striking whenever an opening presented itself, even against established legends like MJ (look up his first All Star game, he went straight at Jordan practically the whole game). 2) Bill Russell actually won 11 championships, not 15. But the reason his championships aren't considered as impactful is because in the era he played in, there were only like 10 teams in the entire league (the NBA expanded later). Also, Russell didn't score a whole lot for his career average, but he was an incredible defender who could keep just about anyone from scoring. 3) One of the main reasons Michael Jordan is still hailed as the standard to which all other players are compared, is because of his impact on the game. Many players modeled their style of play after him. From Allen Iverson to Lebron James, and this was especially true of Kobe, who admitted that everything he displayed on the court came from MJ (he admired Jordan but wanted to surpass him as well).
1:30 FUNNIEST PART OF ALL VIDEOS!!!. Even kids know what traveling looks like.. Im n Tears!!!!
I highly recommend on the NBA You Tube channel the Larry Bird ultimate mixtape. He was another amazing player who played for the Boston Celtics in the 70s and 80s.
The man who made me watch and play basketball. His killer mentality and swag was captivating. Steph may be my favorite ever but Kobe will always have a special place in my heart. Rip Mamba
❤😢😂🎉 much love and respect for you guys from Oklahoma, USA!❤
Kobe’s death has been the only celebrity death (so far) to make me not only cry, but weep …which didn’t happen till late at night after finally coming to the realization that him and his daughter (as well as everyone else on the helicopter) were gone
Thank you guys for doing this I love Kobe and I hope yll did too I really appreciate it
Kobe was such an incredible player and one of the greatest winners of all-time. He did whatever he could to win and was arguably the most dedicated NBA player ever alongside MJ.
RIP Kobe. The NBA lost a light on that dreaded day, but thankfully we have footage of you to look back on whenever needed ❤
In a 2018 story by Kent Babb for The Washington Post, Bryant explained how he happened upon the black mamba for his alter ego when he was watching Quentin Tarantino's movie, "Kill Bill," during which an assassin used a black mamba to kill another character. Thats Why Hes Called The Black Mamba. R.I.P MAMBA
Larry Bird “The Legend” has got to be on your list.
I am watching this for you and Kobe I looked up to him has a kid he inspired me to be a basketball player ♥we miss him very much but he will always be in our hearts
As great as he was on the court, His greatest achievements were still ahead of him. RIP Mamba
I have always been…and will always be, a Lakers fan… God bless all the players…🙏🏻❤️
Loved watching Jerry West and the rest of the team…back in the day…❤
❤🏀 Zeke from Cabin Creek…
Charles Barkley being 6-6 and what he did was amazing.
Great video! Can’t wait til y’all see sports live over here!
Man I can’t even watch a Kobe video without tearing up
Rest easy Kobe 🕊️🙏🏾
So sad…the world will never recover from his death😔
I think Kobe will always be my favorite. Grew up watching him and in my mind will go down as the most clutch player of all time. Countless fadeaway jumpers at the buzzer to win it. Kobe’s fadeaway jumper is like Griffey Jr’s swing in baseball.
You should really check out Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics
He was great !!! Even Ervine Magic Johnson said Larry Bird was the greatest player ever in the NBA
RIP TO MY FAVORITE basketball player Kobe bryant miss u legend 💛💜 good video keep it up
*GUYS LOVE YOUR CHANNEL AND FAMILY* !! Been SUBSCRIBED since it was just Kiwi Kicker.! Your next should 1000% be *Larry Bird* ! Do his ultimate mixtape.! Trust me on this.......
I think you would enjoy watching a video on Randy Johnson the famous baseball pitcher
I watched Kobe his whole career live. He was unreal. The world lost something big too early. Gianni would have put the sad WNBA on another level too.
Yea but unfortunately he got died just weeks after receiving 3+billion credit card to start his own bb league
"I thought you weren't allowed to run with the ball." What a great observation. Referees have been so lenient on the traveling call. The move was illegal. Yet the refs don't call it. It is one of the reasons that I don't watch professional basketball any longer. Bryant was one of the worst at traveling with the ball. Yet he was almost never called.
Now, I think he was a great person. When he and his daughter died in the crash, I wrote something like, "What a great way to end it. He was having a Daddy/Daughter Day. I have loved those moments with my daughters. I never want it to end this way. But he was being a wonderful father."
If you want basketball greatness, look at Larry Bird. I remember coach Red Aurbach saying, "When Bird is on the court, 4 other players are better." That was when Bird was starting a championship game while at 90% due to injuries. Bryant was good. Bird was awesome.
Kobe was great, but you will be highly impressed with Larry Bird! A passer like no other!
Lie again 🤦🏾♂️ Kobe is a goat a legend. Larry the legend was a great shooter but who was a great player was magic fasho
Man real tears right now. I miss Kobe
Simone Biles in women’s gymnastics is someone to definitely check out! Best gymnast of the modern era.
The kids comment @1:28 🤣💀
Now that you are doing the NBA greats, you need to watch the "best all-around ball player in NBA history" who had the highest IQ of the game than anybody! Watch the Larry Bird Ultimate Mixed-Tape. Shooter, passer, play maker, trash-talker, clutch player, the list is long. Larry Legend! Nobody could stop him!!
Finally the video ive been wanting to seeee
PLEASE react to Larry Bird's "Mixed Tape." BOTH Magic Johnson & Michael Jordan have called Larry Bird the greatest NBA player of all time!
MJ is my goat but Kobe is easily my fave player ever. Grew up in LA and watched his entire career 🐍♾️
Some legendary basketball players, magic Johnson and Larry bird. The two people who saved the nba. A boxing legend, someone who has never lost is Floyd mayweather
Haha just saw this video! Nice part 3. He is the GOAT!
Larry Bird was the greatest player ever you should react to his Mixtape
How was he great? His time? People weren’t that athletic and only there mainly for the paycheck? Bird was good but no Jordan or Kobe. Imagine how good he would have been with Kobe’s or Jordan’s determination and work ethic? That’s why I don’t respect bird. Looked like one. Wasn’t fit and didn’t care other than that 9-5. Gifted, but back then, was a lot easier to get drafted or signed than today. 100% facts
I will add my suggestion again, please check out Barry Sanders highlights. One of footballs greatest running backs. You will not be disappointed.
For basketball I love Larry Bird.
Larry Bird said that Magic was the best player that he ever played against. He called him the best and I have a tendency to agree with the magic. Was something special but Kobe was from another planet like Michael
Great father, great human. 🙏❤️
I hope Larry Bird is on that list because he was amazing abd they hight basketball IQ player
as someone that grew up eating and breathing basketball… i still tear up when i watch his highlights….
Michael, Kobe, then LeBron in that order of greatness. But don't forget the 4 most dominant centers. Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem, & Shaq, in no particular order. Those deserve to be mentioned for greatness. It's hard to mention who is the greatest. Every position has their great ones. I love Kobe for his work ethic that no one else has. First to practice, last to leave. No other player does that today.
Olajuwon?
@@adamstevens1204 only reason I left him out was the other won multiple championships. Would include him, and a few others
@@rayfujimori9833 Olajuwon won back-to-back championships
@@jesuswantfreebobux8848 sorry my bad, only after MJ's first retirement. Who knows what would have happened. Burnout or career ending injury. What's done is done. Aleem deserves being mentioned.
Bill Russell is never discussed because players look at him as a civil rights hero, inspirational player. He's definitely one of the greatest. He just lives on his own cloud. Him and Kareem get overlooked because they were older but he was my favorite person in sports.
They don't discuss him because there were 8 teams in the league when he won 11 rings.. he's still talked about as one of the best defenders and the greatest winner
It would be cool for y’all to check out Larry bird or magic Johnson
Being young and watching Jerry Rice and Joe Montana dominate was incredible to watch. Rice will always be my favorite wide receiver. I would have to say being from Green Bay, Brett Favre and Bart Starr are my favorite quarterbacks.
R.i.P Black Mamba, his daughter, and everyone else who was in the helicopter!🙏
Kobe’s daughter was a beast on the court too!
1992 DREAM TEAM… OR LARRY BIRD….please
Kobe was the GOAT.
RIP 🙏
Great player, but after those three you need to watch Larry Bird too.
Yeah Kobe Bryant is one of the few celebrities that I cried for he's the second most iconic player that got me into basketball his Charity funded my childhood basketball program and my friend soccer program when were children