It’s still hard to believe Kobe Bryant is celebrating his 35th birthday.
He’s spent nearly half of his life in the NBA’s superstar fishbowl, morphing from a swaggering high school talent into the current godfather of the league.
The active Lakers legend has grown up in front of basketball-watching America, a process intensified by the spotlight of Hollywood. His maturation has been highlighted by five championships, 15 All-Star appearances, an MVP award, two Finals MVP awards and a place among the all-time scoring leaders.
Bryant has headlined his generation of superstars, proving a mirror of Michael Jordan was close to possible while carrying the torch to LeBron James. He’s the prime link between the old guard and today’s basketball elite; his legacy is both revered and emulated.
On his birthday, we celebrate Bryant for the lasting imprint he’s made on the league, as a superstar willing to do whatever it takes to be the greatest, even if it means ruffling feathers along the way.
Bryant made it cool to be the hard-working villain. His influence and gr ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Jimmy Spencer
What Kobe Bryant Has Meant to the NBA
August 23rd, 2013 by Jimmy Spencer Leave a reply »
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