Kobe Bryant’s passing, one year later, still feels surreal

Kobe Bryant’s passing still feels surreal

One year ago, the world was hit with the unfortunate news that Kobe Bryant, along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven others, had passed away in a tragic helicopter accident. It was not news that you’d expect nor something that was going to be easy to process – and we can’t even fathom what his family had to have gone through.

As fans and spectators, it still hurt many to a certain extent. Kobe was a player many now-adults idolized and modeled their games after as kids. A player that many grew to love – and perhaps hate – because of his on-the-court greatness.

Was he a perfect person? No, none of us are. Still, Kobe transcended the game and played a historic role in one of the most historic franchises in the NBA, Los Angeles Lakers.

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One year later, after numerous (worthy) tributes, it still feels somewhat surreal. In fact, it’s even difficult to fathom that it’s been an entire year since the accident, at least from a personal respective. I’m not sure if that has anything to do with the fact that we’ve been living in a global pandemic for roughly a year now, which feels like something straight out of a movie.

Either way, one year later, the loss of Kobe is still very much felt. From his family to the players that are currently in the NBA that idolized him to the fans at home, Kobe is still very much a real figure. He’s just not here anymore. And I’m not sure that’s something I, personally, can successfully process right now.

But that’s often the fallout from premature departure. It’s part of a grieving process.

Personally, I was never the biggest Kobe Bryant fan. In fact, I often rooted against the Lakers (mostly because they were always winning). Still, Kobe Bryant’s passing is the first celebrity death that shook me. It left me at a loss for words. I just couldn’t believe it.

When Kobe passed, a large piece of my childhood left me too. Whether you rooted for him or against him, there’s no question that Kobe’s death had an impact on every NBA fan, one way or another.

One year later, it still doesn’t feel real. I still feel like we’re going to wake up one day and still have Kobe Bryant in our lives. He is missed and will continue to be missed. His legacy, however, continues to live on.