Throwback as a kid in 2002
Waiting for the TV to get done with the news
There he was Ernie J. on TNT
Going through pregame and there I see
In the background a 'fro wearing number 8
In purple and gold his shoes ready and laced
Knocking down j's like it was nothin'
His fadeaways were an instant bucket
There I was a happy kid who could not believe
The sight I was seeing made me so glee
He played just like Mike, but clearly wasn't
Far from the term "a dime a dozen"
Over the next decade or so I would watch this guy grow
From wearing 8 to wearing 24
And he (even) inspired me to play in hopes that one day
I could step on the hardwood knockin' down j's
Kobe
As I would shout
As he took a fader
I hoped it would drop
Kobe
As I would shout
As his fader went in
He smirks at the crowd
Kobe
As I would shout
As he took a fader
I hoped it would drop
Kobe
As I would shout
As his fader went in
He smirks at the crowd
As the years went by the man aged like fine wine
Halting team USA from their decline
But then out of nowhere he tore his achilles
We watched sadly as he gracefully played out his last season
Far from his prime so bruised and beaten
Every game he took the court with so much heart
His Mamba Mentality kept him goin'
And on his very last game he dropped 60 points
Kobe
As I would shout
As he took a fader
I hoped it would drop
Kobe
As I would shout
As his fader went in
He smirks at the crowd
Kobe
As I would shout
As he took a fader
I hoped it would drop
Kobe
As I would shout
As his fader went in
He smirks at the crowd
(This one's for you, Black Mamba!)
At guard
Standing in at 6 foot 6
From Lower Marion High School
KOBE Bryant!
(Five-time NBA champion
Including the famous 3-peat from 2000 until 2002
And again, the repeat with Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom
And such in 2009 and 2010
He's a two-time NBA finals MVP
A recipient of an NBA Most Valuable Player Award
Two-time scoring champion
Eighteen-time NBA All-Star
Four-time All-Star Game MVP
Which is tied for the most in NBA All-Star history
In NBA history, for that matter
Fifteen-time All-NBA
Twelve-time All-Defense
An All-Rookie Team
And a Slam Dunk Contest champion
He's also an Academy Award winner for Best Short Film
He's received an ESPY
And also a BET – a few times at that
He also has the most points
Recorded in a single game in modern NBA history
With 81 against the Toronto Raptors and Jalen Rose)