Kobe Bryant's lasting impact on these Celtics runs deep in wake of tragedy

Only four players on the 2019-20 Boston Celtics ever got to play in a game against Kobe Bryant. Yet, on the day the Hall of Fame guard tragically passed away with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter accident, it’s hard to imagine another person in the world of basketball who had a greater impact on today’s generation of NBA talent.

Bryant was a giant figure not just in the NBA, but in the world of sports itself. From ‘Kobe’ chants breaking out in the stands at the Pro Bowl to Neymar throwing up his number ’24’ after scoring a goal, Bryant tributes poured in all over the globe. His connection with a number of these current Celtics went beyond just his play on the floor, however.

Gordon Hayward spent time training with Bryant in the summer of 2016 while with the Utah Jazz and still holds keepsakes from those lessons to this day.

“I was lucky enough to play against him,” Hayward told reporters in New Orleans. “I took a week out and went to Newport and trained with him. I still have all the emails saved. Growing up watching him, a lot of us in the NBA now watched him, idolized him.”

Bryant also reached out to Hayward on social media with a pointed message after he suffered his broken ankle two years ago.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Be sad. Be mad. Be frustrated. Scream. Cry. Sulk. When you wake up you will think it was just a nightmare only to realize it’s all too real. You will be angry and wish for the day back, the game back THAT play back. But reality gives nothing back and nor should you. Time to move on and focus on doing everything in your power to prepare for surgery, ask all the questions to be sure you understand fully the procedure so that you may visualize it in your subconscious while being operated on and better the chance of it’s success. Then focus on the recovery process day by day by day. It’s a long journey but if you focus on the mini milestones along the way you will find beauty in the struggle of doing simple things that prior to this injury were taken for granted. This will also mean that when you return you will have a new perspective. You will be so appreciative of being able to stand, walk, run that you will train harder than you ever have. You see the belief within you grow with each mini milestone and you will come back a better player for it. Best of luck to you on this journey my brother #mambamentality always.

A post shared by Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) on Oct 18, 2017 at 8:38am PDT

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Heart broken. My Hero. My Idol. The reason I started to play this game, the reason I fell in love with this game. Growing up wanting to be just like you, to you becoming a mentor, beyond thankful for everything you’ve done for me. “I didn’t have a plan B I put all my eggs in one basket and I knew I was going to make it happen” hearing you say that stuck with me everyday of my life. You inspired me and I am forever grateful more than you know! Love you Bean ??❤️! Sad, sad, sad day RIP Kobe and Gianna! Praying for the family!

A post shared by Jayson Tatum?? (@jaytatum0) on Jan 26, 2020 at 1:31pm PST