Dear Kobe Bean Bryant,

You were the person that inspired me, alongside a generation of athletes, to pick up a basketball. Through Mamba Mentality, you showed us what strength, discipline, detail, and persistence look like.

While your name is — and will always be — synonymous with the sport, being “just a basketball player” is one of the last things I would think when describing your legacy. Sure, many consider you one of the best to ever play, but I see basketball as a medium to accomplish bigger goals, and to share your beliefs and mentality with the rest of the world.

As a father, you used basketball to connect and forge relationships with your daughters, especially Gianna, whose story will never be forgotten. As a businessman, your knowledge of basketball opened up a world of. opportunities as you founded the media production company, Granity Studios, and co-founded the venture capital fund, Bryant Stibel.

Within a year of retiring, you won an Academy Award for Best Short Film (Animated) for Dear Basketball, which took viewers on your basketball journey. As referenced in your acceptance speech, before the exponential rise of athlete empowerment, basketball players were supposed to “shut up and dribble,” but that night you sent a message to everyone shattering any repressive expectations. Through this, you altered the perception of what athletes are capable of accomplishing during and after their athletic career.

You were the premier athlete of my generation at marketing your name and brand, embracing the overseas fanbases, becoming an icon for basketball fans worldwide, and reshaping sport culture. I can’t shoot-around at a basketball court without seeing people rocking your shoes and representing your emblem, the sheath logo. I will always remember your Hyperdunk ‘08 commercial, as you amazed everyone by jumping over a speeding Aston Martin. When Nike re-released the shoe in 2016, the legend of that act still created a buzz surrounding the drop, emphasizing the popularity you had. It is safe to say your basketball shoes will be worn endlessly and lacing up those kicks will have a special meaning for everyone.

Finally, what you did for the game of women’s basketball is beyond inspiring. In founding the Mamba Sports Academy and being an advocate for the sport, you’ve given stars like Hailey Van Lith and Sabrina Ionescu a platform to share their talent with the rest of us. I’m excited to see what the future of women’s basketball has in store as others continue your sensational work.

From the entire MSBC team, you will be in our hearts forever.

Thank you Kobe,

Daniel Hassan