THE LEGACY OF A CHAMPION | Kobe Bryant Tribute (Most Inspiring Speech)

Good evening, we start tonight with some breaking news. So much of the world is just in shock. Retired Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant has been killed in a helicopter crash. What I've learned is to always keep going. Always. You know, there's been times, particularly early in my career, where you just feel like this is the end. But what I've come to find out is that, you know, no matter what happens, the storm eventually ends. And when the storm does end, you want to make sure that you're ready. And so I've really learned to put one foot in front of the other, good, bad, or indifferent, because eventually that storm passes. With the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA draft, the Charlotte Hornets select Kobe Bryant from Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania. For every time I step on the basketball court, I'm going to put a strong effort out there on the floor. I'm not going to leave anything on the floor. Everything was done to try to learn how to become a better basketball player. Everything, everything. And so when you have that point of view, then literally the world becomes your library to help you to become better at your craft. And as I'm walking onto the court, who do I see? I see Kobe Bryant already working out. And I'm like, OK, that's kind of cool. It's Kobe. So I worked out for a good hour, hour and a half. And when I came off, after I was done, I sat down. And of course, I still hear the ball bouncing. I look down like, this guy's still working out. He was working out. Like, it looks like he was in a dead sweat when I got here. And he's still going. And it's not like his moves are nonchalant or lazy. He's doing like game moves, you know. I sit there and I unlace my shoes. I'm like, I want to see how long this goes. I sit out there and watch. Another 25 minutes. And he got done. I said, OK, I think I've seen enough. Go play, you know. Come back, get in the sauna, get ready for the game. That game, he drops 40 on us, OK? And after the game is over, I'm like, I have to ask this guy. I have to understand why he works like that. So after the game is over, I'm like, hey, Kobe, why were you in the gym for so long? He's like, because I saw you come in. And I wanted you to know that it doesn't matter how hard you work, that I'm willing to work harder than you. And he's like, there's nothing wrong with that. I'm not saying I dislike you as a person. You inspire me to be better. And it was the first time I started to see this level of competitiveness where I said, I need to start doing more. Wow. Well, here's the thing. It's competitiveness, yes. But it's a simple theory or idea to live life by. If you're going to do something, do it to the best of your ability. No matter what it is, if you're going to do it, do it to the best of your ability. If you love what you do and it's making you happy, all the hard work and perseverance will pay off. I once had a guidance counselor tell me that I shouldn't play basketball, that it would never amount to anything for me. His negativity towards me was strong. You can't stop people from trying to limit your dreams, but you can stop it from becoming a reality. Your dreams are up to you. I encourage you to always be curious, always seek out things you love, and always work hard what you find. Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. God, I love you guys. And I love you. To my family, my wife, Vanessa, our daughters, Natalia and Gianna. Yo, thank you guys for all your sacrifice. Yo, for all the hours I spent in the gym working and training. Vanessa, you holding down the family the way that you have. I can't, there's no way that I could thank you enough for that. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you. And what can I say? Mamba out. Everything was done to try to learn how to become a better basketball player. Everything, everything. And so when you have that point of view, then literally the world becomes your library to help you to become better at your craft. So because you know what you want, the world's giving you exactly the information you need to become better at it. Because you know what you're looking for. So many guys tell stories about your work ethic. What was really your work ethic like? And for how long did you stay disciplined? Well, I mean, every day. I mean, since 20 years, it was an everyday process and trying to figure out strengths and weaknesses. For example, jumping ability. My vertical was a 40, it wasn't a 46 or 45. My hands are big, but they're not massive, right? So you got to figure out ways to strengthen them. So your hands are strong enough to be able to palm a ball and do the things that you need to do. Quickness. I was quick, but not insanely quick. I was fast, but not ridiculously fast, right? So I had to rely on skill a lot more. I had to rely on angles a lot more. I had to study the game a lot more. But I enjoyed it though. So like from the time I was, I can remember when I started watching the game, I studied the game and it just never changed. It's a good separation for me, you know, emotionally to be able to put myself in a place where at practice or when I'm training or doing games, I switched my mind to something else. I switched my mode into something else, right? For me, it's the equivalent of Maximus, Desmus, Meridius and gladiator picking up the dirt, smelling the dirt. It's go time, right? So that was my mental switch. It was like an actor getting ready for a film. You got to put yourself in that cage. When you're in that cage, you are that character. And then when you leave there, it's something completely different. But when I'm in that cage, bro, don't touch me. Don't talk to me. Leave me alone. How did you get mentally and emotionally so strong where it doesn't bother you? Well, you know, it's, you got to look at the reality of the situation, you know, like for me, it's not, you know, you kind of got to get over yourself. It's not about you, man. Like, okay, you feel embarrassed. You're not that important. Like, get over yourself. That's where you go. Get over yourself, right? Like you're worried about how people may perceive you and like you're walking around and it's embarrassing because you shot five air balls. Get over yourself, right? And then after that, it's okay. Well, why did those air balls happen? Got it. High school, year before, we played 35 games max, right? Week in between, spaced out, plenty of time to rest. In the NBA, it's back to back to back to back to back to back to back. I didn't have the legs. So you look at the shot, every shot was on line. Every shot was on line, but every shot was short, right? I got to get stronger. I got to train differently. The weight training program that I'm doing, I got to tailor it for an 82-game season so that when the playoffs come around, my legs are stronger and that ball gets there. So I look at it with rationale and say, okay, well, the reason why I shot air balls is because my legs aren't there. Next year, they'll be there. That was it. Done. You're playing against the Golden State Warriors. Score is 107-109. You guys are close to getting into the playoffs. You know exactly what happens in the game. You go up, you're about to take your shot and then all of a sudden, boom, Achilles happens, right? He went and hit the free throws and then you walked off the stage. Yeah. When I went in the trainer's room, my kids are in there and they're looking at you and stuff and I'm looking at them and I'm like, you know, it's all right. Dad's going to be all right. It'll be fine. It'll be all right. As a parent, you got to set the example. You got to set the example. This is another obstacle. This obstacle cannot define me. It's not going to cripple me. It's not going to be responsible for me stepping away for the game that I love. I'm going to step away on my own terms and that's when the decision was made that, you know what? I'm doing it. You're a freaking beast, man.