How Kobe Bryant became The “Black Mamba”

Kobe Bryant's nickname is "The Black Mamba," which he dubbed himself to get through one of the most unfortunate parts of his life. To Kobe it meant more than a moniker he fittingly adopted and so the alter-ego was born. Quick to strike on the court and one of the most deadly in the game if he got loose on said court. Extreme precision that was unrivaled by most other players of the game. Kobe said, in the documentary “Muse”, that it “was more about the battle that was going on within himself" and that the opponents on and off the court were just in the way "and may get demolished in the process." Kobe said he got the nickname from watching one of the villians in Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill.”

Kobe ended his career with 32,310 points, a full 18 points more than the (arguably) G.O.A.T. Michael “Air” Jordan, who ended his career with 32,292 points. It’s a rare site to have been able to witness one of the best to ever play the game shatter the record set by his hero and to be passed by one of his best friends last night, Lebron James. Kobe’s last tweet being:

'“Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother 💪🏾 #33644,” Bryant tweeted.’

After James passed Bryant on Saturday, he remembered listening to Bryant when he came to speak at a basketball camp when he was a child, Lebron going on to say: “I remember one thing he said: If you want to be great at it or you want to be one of the greats, you have to put the work in,” James said. “There are no substitutions for work.”

Sadly Bryant was 41 years old and on his way to a travel basketball game with his daughter Gianna Bryant, 13, when the helicopter crashed. Among those aboard with them were: another player and parent and the pilot.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and fellow fans of Kobe “The Black Mamba” Bryant. You were of the game’s pioneers for many of my childhood and even a few adult years and every game I watched you dominate and kick butt. You can rest now friend but don’t be sad it’s only halftime.