04/14/2016
This will always be one of my most cherished moments as a Photographer. Having the honor to photograph two of the NBA's Legends Jamal Crawford and Kobe Bryant.
It's a bittersweet day as we all watch the end of an amazing journey of truly one of the best players in the world.. the one and only Kobe Bryant! Watching as he grew up as a young man and phenomenal player over the years was a privilege. And to witness the influence he had on his fans across the globe, especially young players who all wanted to grow and be just like him. It seems like yesterday..and now I can't quite grasp that once again yet another of the greatest players of all time of will hang his jersey along side Legends such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlin, and many more. My own sons were his huge fans and he had an integral influence on their own journey as basketbll players. His farewell letter he wrote about his journey and relationship with Basketball was profoundly moving I'll never forget it. And my last memory that stands out, was that on this day I took ths photo, amongst thousands of Seattle fans going crazy with excitement to see him- There he was nestled in the seats with his wife and two beautiful daughters and to watch him as he was so affectionate and doting on all of them was very special to me. I happened to catch a brief intimate moment as I was getting shots of the event , of Kobe gently taking his wife's hand and kissing it and then hugging and kissing his girls. It was as if there was no one there but he and his famly. It was priceless for this Photographer/Basketball Mom/Hopeless Romantic 💖 Thank you Kobe for the gift of watching a Legend in the making and for inspiring young athletes everywhere. Bryant
