'Laker fan for life': How rugby paid tribute to the death of NBA and Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant
Much like the rest of the world, the sudden passing of NBA legend Kobe Bryant has left the rugby fraternity in shock and disbelief.
The 41-year-old former Los Angeles Lakers star died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on Sunday (local time) alongside his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven other people.
Tributes have since poured in from around the globe for Bryant, who established himself as one of the greatest basketball players to ever live after securing five NBA titles, two NBA Finals MVP awards, an NBA MVP award, 18 NBA All-Star selections and two Olympic gold medals in a 20-year career stretching between 1996 and 2016.
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His accolades made him a revered figure in not just basketball, but the entire world of sport, which has subsequently left many rugby stars reeling in the wake of his death.
Former All Blacks first-five Dan Carter was among the many high-profile rugby players from across the planet who honoured Bryant and his daughter on social media in the hours following the announcement of the helicopter crash.
“Rest in Peace, Kobe and Gianna Bryant,” the Kobe Steelers playmaker posted to his 1.6 million collective followers on Twitter and Instagram.
“Taken far too soon. My thoughts are with the Bryant family at this incredibly difficult time, and the families of the others that passed in that tragic crash. Very sad.”
Rest In Peace, Kobe and Gianna Bryant. Taken far too soon. My thoughts are with the Bryant family at this incredibly difficult time, and the families of the others that passed in that tragic crash. Very sad. pic.twitter.com/XHnAd7Xbdv
— Dan Carter (@DanCarter) January 26, 2020
Carter’s Top League rival, former Wallabies centurion and Suntory Sungoliath playmaker Matt Giteau, also paid his respects to his 194,000 followers on Twitter.
“Such sad news to wake up to.. Kobe Bryant and his daughter dead,” Giteau wrote in one tweet.
“Life is just way too precious & can’t be taken for granted. Appreciate the ones we do have around & the blessings we do have.. This is just so so sad.”
Such sad news to wake up to.. Kobe Bryant and his daughter dead 😢 Life is just way too precious & can’t be taken for granted. Appreciate the ones we do have around & the blessings we do have.. This is just so so sad
— Matt Giteau 🇦🇺 (@giteau_rugby) January 26, 2020
The 37-year-old followed that up with another post that was later re-tweeted by current All Blacks star Beauden Barrett, which read: “No point constantly planning for a future. We need to just live it now & enjoy what we really have. Awful way to regain perspective sometimes. This is just so sad”.
No point constantly planning for a future. We need to just live it now & enjoy what we really have. Awful way to regain perspective sometimes. This is just so sad 😞💔
— Matt Giteau 🇦🇺 (@giteau_rugby) January 26, 2020
New Toronto Wolfpack signing Sonny Bill Williams took to Instagram to commemorate Bryant’s life, posting an image of Kobe and Gianna captioned: “Hold on to your close ones. Tell them you love them. Tell them you forgive them. Remind them how important they are to you. Life’s precious and so is love.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7z76Q6BBu4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The cross-code convert’s former All Blacks teammates TJ Perenara and Lima Sopoaga both shared the same image as each other as they explained how Bryant sparked their passions for basketball and the Lakers.
“From making me fall in love with the game of Basketball to teaching me to fall in love with the relentless pursuit of mastering ones craft. You are and will always be an inspiration,” wrote Hurricanes co-captain Perenara.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B70RleGBi21/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Wasps pivot Sopoaga, meanwhile, simply wrote: “I became a Laker fan for life because of you”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7z_DRnBuNo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
World Cup-winning Springboks playmaker Elton Jantjies added to the flow of tributes, posting a photo of Bryant, whose nickname was Black Mamba, to Twitter captioned: “G – RIP MAMBA #LEGENDARY”.
https://twitter.com/jantjies_elton/status/1221669973665382401
In France, Irish speedster Simon Zebo was joined by Racing 92 teammate Teddy Thomas in acknowledging the life of Bryant.
“RIP G.O.A.T,” Zebo wrote in an Instagram post which features a young Bryant donning the iconic No. 8 jersey he wore in the early stages of his career.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y5vbKBy8v/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
French international Thomas uploaded a pair of photos – one of Bryant after he helped the Lakers claim the 2001 NBA title, and another of the star with Gianna – captioned: “THE REAL MAMBA #24”.
The hashtag of the number 24 is a nod to the equally iconic No. 24 jersey that Bryant wore in the second half of his career.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B70DW2ECL69/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Bryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and three daughters – the youngest of whom was born last June.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments