Dear Kobe,

I remember it was a close Laker game down to the last couple of seconds with the Lakers trailing by 1. The only hope was for a last-second shot. My whole family gathered to watch, then my dad nervously stands up and moves closer to the tv to ease stress. Kobe pulls up at the right-side elbow and nails it. The buzzer rings and Kobe earn the Lakers a win and a spot in the playoffs. My dad so full of joy and excitement he starts jumping and screaming and exuding elate happiness. I didn’t know how much joy a sport can make you feel until I saw it in my dad. Next thing you know it, because of that shot my whole life became chasing elate happiness with just a ball and a basket.

81 points -- I remember when I saw the newspaper the next morning my Lolo was showing me the LA Times headline. In big bold numbers “81 points” and Kobe’s picture right next to it and thought, “WHAT 81” that is unbelievable. I did a double-take to comprehend 81 points. I was small at the time, but my dad told me some teams only score 81 points in an entire game. So, for only one person to score that many points, I knew you were crazy.

2010 Championship -- My favorite game of all-time is game 7 against the Boston Celtics. Every Laker fan wanted it. And any fan of you wanted to see you beat the Celtics. You had to avenge the gut-wrenching championship run in 2008. Even if you played awful, you did it with such determination and will, and we all saw it and celebrated with you. This game gives me so much joy to this day. Thank you for giving me the best game of my life.

Achilles injury -- The night you broke your achilles, that game I knew Lakers had to win to get into the playoffs. Foul after foul you would get beat up. But no matter what, you were willing to fight for the team to win. I could just tell you were giving everything you had to win that game. And then boom. It was like time stood still. Stu Lantz said, “Looks like he is trying to rub his ankle.” I thought, for sure you would get back up, you are fine. Then you headed to the bench and the announcers said you were not going to continue. And miraculously you gave us the most special moment of completing 2 free throws with one leg just to finish the game off for the team. Again, the magnitude of that moment was unimaginable.

I knew you were going to be just fine and still show up for your team. He couldn’t retire yet. That is not the way he would want his story to end.

Final game as a Laker 60 point -- I was in my dorm room watching the game on the verge of tears days leading up to the game knowing your time as the star of the show is about to end. I didn’t expect much, but all I knew is Kobe is not going out losing his last game. But who would have thought you shot almost every possession down the stretch. I looked at the score and you were at 40 and the end of the third quarter, thinking “he is going to get 50.” I couldn’t believe it. The last 2 mins are approaching, Lakers were still losing by 10 and then my dad calls me and says, “Are you watching this?!” and I said “YES!” I’m in my dorm room trying not to scream and look like an idiot next to my roommate. But there you go making the best lasting memory for us all. A 60-point game and a win, the perfect storybook ending.

But one of my favorite memories of all is when I saw you in person. I had Saturday morning basketball practice at a public park in Newport every week. I knew you lived close by. And I heard a rumor that you drove a black Range Rover. My coach comes up and says I think Kobe is here. My teammates and I ran to go check the parking lot and saw a black Range Rover. We scoured the school looking even for a glimpse to see you. Then we spotted you with your daughters and family playing basketball through a black gate. And we watched and stared through the panels till you would see us. You finally saw us and waved and said, “Not today guys, I’m with my family.” I was a little bitter that you could not take one second to talk to us. But I saw him, and I was grateful.

Looking back now I think that is the best memory I have of you. You put your family first before basketball and before your fans. You knew that you only had those small special times with your family because any other time you were dedicated to the game. And that’s what I admire most about you, Kobe. With the intensity of your nature, you always brought it back to your family. I rest a little easier you left this world doing what you loved the most, being with your daughter.

#GirlDad reminded me of my relationship with my father. He was the whole reason I started loving basketball. Through watching you, my dad taught me how to play, drove me to my practices, and watched my games. And when we came home, we would watch Lakers games together. It was basketball every day in our house, even when the NBA is not on. All these moments I remember of Kobe, my dad was by my side experiencing it with me the whole time.

Kobe, you were family to me. You have given me so many moments to remember. You gave me a reason to connect with my father and helped build my relationship with him by just playing basketball. And that is something I will always cherish. I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for being my inspiration. For being my favorite player of all time. For giving me a reason to love basketball with all my heart. For teaching me to attack life with the Mamba Mentality and to work hard at everything I do. And to finding beauty in darkness in this crazy life.

Mamba Out