Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant had words of encouragement for the mother of a lifelong fan on Sunday morning.
Bryant passed along his prayers to the mother, who is apparently dealing with breast cancer:
Recently my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and is Triple Negative. As a child, my mom and I loved the Lakers, with Kobe being our fav player. Thank you @kobebryant for the motivational words, prayers and being there mentally and emotionally for us 🙏🏿#mambamentality pic.twitter.com/xZhYgK7Rmn
— Timbo Thymes (@Timbothymes) January 5, 2020
Bryant is looking to give back in a number of ways since his retirement from the Lakers in 2016. The Black Mamba won an Oscar for his animated short entitled “Dear Basketball,” and his “Granity Studios” production company is aimed at helping young athletes “reach their full potential,” per the company's mission statement:
Formed by NBA Legend Kobe Bryant, Granity Studios is an award winning multimedia original content company focused on creating new ways to tell stories around sports. Stories that are crafted to entertain, by bringing education and inspiration together.
We partner with award-winning writers, producers and illustrators to awaken the imagination of young athletes and foster emotional and mental development that allows them to reach their full potential.
Kobe also granted the wish of a dying Lakers fan back in 2010 (via Steve Springer of USA TODAY Sports):
After the Lakers defeated the Suns that night to go up 2-0 in the series, after Bryant had dressed and met with the media, he walked into a private room at Staples Center where Joey, his mother, and his sister Rhiannon waited.
“Hey, Joey where were your seats?” Bryant asked, going on to describe his own experience watching a game as a teenager.
They chatted. Bryant signed every item Joey had brought with him and then took pictures with the family.
When Bryant finally left, Joey’s face was glowing.
“He talked to me like he had known me for years,” Joey said. “We chatted like we were old buddies.”
“What a class act,” Linda said of Bryant. “He took the time in the middle of all he had going on to light up a young man’s life.”
On June 11, just over three weeks after he met Bryant, Joey died.
Bryant is known for being one of the most ruthless competitors to ever grace the hardwood.
Off the floor, however, he is perhaps one of the more benevolent figures in the NBA. He continues to prove as much even in retirement.
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