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There are seldom times when the world completely stops; it’s rare that a single human being makes such a great impact that they earn the title of "legend." The light of a legend is bright. It breaches the boundaries of sex, ethnicity, age and almost anything else that is uses to separate the human race. But when that light goes out, it shakes the world even more than their presence ever did.

On January 26, 2020, we learned that NBA legend Kobe Bryant, along with his 13 year-old daughter, Gigi, were among nine people who died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. Reports state that while on their way to a youth basketball training, Bryant's helicopter plummeted to a fiery mass on Sunday morning. TMZ was among the first to report the fatality, and in that moment the world erupted with sorrow and disbelief. At 41 years old our legend was gone.

Kobe Bryant entered the NBA at a youthful 18 years of age in 1996, and so began the 20-year streak of history and greatness. Five NBA championships, four children and countless motivational gems later, we watched in confusion as we were told that the Black Mamba had passed. Bryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa Bryant, and their three daughters (Natailia, 17; Bianka, 3 and Capri, 7 months).

This is not a piece to highlight his stats or go through the key points in his athletic timeline, but to mourn the loss of both Kobe and Gigi as they were so suddenly taken from us. Kobe Bryant was known for not only his ordained athletic ability, but his work ethic and attitude of perseverance. For me personally, it was the attitude of persistence and no excuses that spoke to me the most; sleek and powerfully, Kobe's actions gave us so much to cling to as a tool for the betterment of ourselves.

Kobe was so much more than an athlete — he was a father and an activist, and he was immortalized for us. Kobe was not just a person, he was an action. He was the greatness we felt when we made a shot with paper balls in the trash can, or with basketballs on the tattered court with the metal chained hoops. He was our fire when we wanted to fail, and literally an instigator throughout his time on the court. And now, he is gone. Gone.

Less than 24 hours before the tragic helicopter crash, Bryant was honoring Lebron James, who recently surpassed his record on the NBA's all-time scoring list, earning him Bryant's spot at number three. Now, articles are being published by tens of thousands as we mourn the loss of our great legend.

Gianna (Gigi) Bryant, at just 13 years of age, proved herself to be a young legend in the making, as well. Bryant frequently spoke on his daughter's athletic ability, praising her often on social media, proudly sharing clips of her games. It was clear that Gigi fed into him just as much as he put into her being, not only as her father, but her coach.

"Before Gigi got into basketball, I hardly watched it," said Bryant on a recently aired episode of the Showtime Basketball podcast, All the Smoke. He continued, "But now that she's into basketball we watch every night."

Gigi aspired to play for the WNBA and carry Kobe's legacy, something he also recognized, which made the duo inseparable. In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel in 2018, Bryant boasted with confidence that Gigi is the heir to the all-star throne.

"The best thing that happens is when we go out and fans would come up to me and she'll be standing next to me and they'll be like, 'You've got to have a boy, you and Vanessa got to have a boy. You got to have somebody to carry on your legacy. And she's [Gigi] like. 'Oh wait! I got this!" Bryant proudly agreed, saying, "I'm like, that’s right. Yes you do, you got this!"

I feel the most personal part, aside from the feeling that resonates when death takes someone of such valor and distinction, is the subtle reminder of our own mortality. It's a reminder that there is no preference in the choice of life and of death, and there are no promises. Kobe went hard everyday — there was no unfinished business, there were no regrets. He fulfilled his time on and off the court fervently and relentlessly. He will be forever remembered, honored and revered for his immaculate and untouchable accomplishments as a world-renowned athlete, but he will be immortalized for the mantras he set for his own life that became merged into ours.

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