Kobe Bryant developed a ‘comfortable’ relationship with death after grappling with retirement in 2016
Late NBA legend Kobe Bryant reportedly talked about his relationship with death in an interview, and how "comfortable" he was with it. Bryant's interview resurfaced after he tragically died on January 26. The Los Angeles Lakers legend, 41, died in the helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. The chopper was carrying his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant, and seven others. None survived the fatal crash.
Bryant, in a 2016 interview with The Ringer, had opened up about his acceptance of the inevitability of death. When he was asked about what his relationship with death was Bryant replied with saying it was "a comfortable one."
"It’s an understanding,” Bryant said. “You can’t have life without death. Can’t have light without the dark. So it’s an acceptance of that." He added that he was forced to confront his mortality when he was grappling with the idea of retiring in his 2016 season.
"When it came time to decide whether or not I should retire, [it was] really an acceptance of that mortality that all athletes face," he said. "And if you combat it, you’ll always have that inner struggle within yourself. … So … I’m comfortable with it."
Bryant's widowed wife Vanessa Bryant opened up about her tragic loss on Wednesday as she wrote an emotional Instagram post, saying that she was "devastated" over the loss of her "adoring" husband and their "beautiful" daughter. She asked for continued respect for her family’s privacy as they begin to “navigate this new reality.”
"My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who’ve shown support and love during this horrific time. Thank you for all the prayers," Vanessa wrote. "We definitely need them. We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri."
