‘He really put his arms around us.’ Wade on how Kobe Bryant impacted next generation
Not many deaths hit sports fans harder than that of Kobe Bryant.
It’s been more than two weeks yet the wound still feels fresh.
While his death rocked the entire sports community, it appeared to have the biggest impact on the NBA’s young superstars. Kyrie Irving left the arena after learning the news. Trae Young held back tears in a post-game presser. Victor Oladipo broke down mid-interview at the mention of Mamba Mentality.
Appearing on “The Ellen Show,” Dwyane Wade alluded to why that generation was particularly distraught.
“He was the first superstar that really embraced different generations, really embraced us,” the former Heat star said Tuesday. “I think from the [2008] Olympics on, he really put his arms around us as competitors and the rest of the world.”
Although the two were close in age, it’s clear that Wade still looked up to the five-time champion. Not being able to seek Bryant’s advice, Wade says, is what he’ll miss most.
“You saw him being more involved in so many different sports not just basketball, in soccer, obviously with his daughter in women basketball,” he continued. “But he started being a person that everybody can call and reach out to and say ‘Hey Kobe, I have a question.’”
Two days before “The Ellen Show,” Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union were asked about Bryant’s legacy. The 13-time All-Star’s response once again touched on the younger generations’ reverence for the Black Mamba.
“In every aspect of his life, he became a winner,” Wade told “Extra.” “He mastered whatever it is he needed to. And it comes with mistakes along the way but eventually, he mastered how to be an amazing basketball player, an amazing father, an amazing husband.”
When the interviewer turned to Union, the actress perfectly encapsulated why Bryant’s death will continue to sting for quite some time.
“I think you won’t really have a full grasp of the magnitude of his loss for a while because I think people are still in shock,” she said.
