A select few in the gaming world are famous enough to go by just one name. Kobe was one of them. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Kobe Bryant was one of nine killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Sunday at the age of 41. He leaves behind the legacy of an extraordinary NBA player, untainted, arguably one of the game's greatest symbols of the twentieth century, and an image almost covered in folklore. From the moment he entered the NBA, Bryant had the platform to develop into an otherworldly star. Only one player out of all presents himself in such conditions. He entered the NBA in 1996, during the height of the K-12 hype. He was a young Philadelphia phenom who spent part of his youth abroad, communicated in Italian and was said to demolish individual draft prospects in pre-draft exercises in 1996. He largely bullied his way to the Los Angeles Lakers in the draft and he joined an uphill group he worked around Shaquille O'Neal. Out of nowhere, one of the liveliest young players of recent years found himself in one of the largest media markets in the country. Bryant has taken on a supporting role for O'Neal since the beginning of his career, but has had the chance to transform into a protagonist in his privilege under a splendid spotlight. Despite the fact that O'Neal was the member of those Lakers teams that won three consecutive titles, Bryant was the most elegantly satisfying player to watch. Lean and hyper-athletic, Bryant was the Lakers' threat, a player prone to driving the line and dunking or making a draw shot at any moment. He became the most energetic player to watch in a group that became the substance of the NBA following Michael Jordan's retirement. Over time, the hierarchy between Bryant and O'Neal reversed. One of the reasons Bryant was such a cherished and highly regarded player is why he imitated the player widely considered the best player in NBA history: Michael Jordan. The similarities were hard to miss: Both were lightweight, athletic 6-foot-6 shooting watches. Bryant looked up to Jordan and his footwork. In an early career meeting with Jordan, Bryant even sought Jordan's advice on the best way to shoot fuzzy jumpers. Like Jordan, Bryant could attack opponents from multiple angles. From the beginning in his career, he could outscore opponents and score at the limit. Later, as age and NBA miles caught up with him, Bryant's footwork and ability to hit intense, challenging shots became the foundation of his game. Jordan once said that Bryant could beat him in a one-on-one round in light of Bryant duplicating all of his moves. Style matters in the NBA. All chests control the same, however not all shots are made the same. Fans in general turn to players who can make their own shot, scoring easily in a variety of ways, paying little attention to the block. Like Jordan, it proved difficult to turn away when Bryant had the ball. With more than 20 years in the NBA, Bryant has built one of the most impressive reference lists. He won three consecutive titles with O'Neal and the Lakers, but perhaps more importantly for his legacy, he prevailed without O'Neal. The post-O'Neal Lakers were a cornerstone of Bryant's time in the NBA. The Lakers dropped out of title contention, winning a total of 40 games from 2004-05 through 2006-07. Regardless, Bryant has thrived, averaging 31.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game in that span and.!'