Locals reflect on passing of basketball icon

Jan 27, 2020 | 2:26 PM

Prince Albert’s basketball community is looking back on the legacy of Kobe Bryant.

The NBA all-star died in helicopter crash in Southern California Sunday morning while traveling with his daughter and others to a basketball tournament.

Derek Smith, coordinator for P.A. Community Basketball Association, said Bryant’s work since retiring from the game in 2016 had an impact. This work helped develop minor basketball — specifically women’s basketball.

“His mamba mentality club system that he had going there and started would have grown immensely for sure throughout the states and into Canada,” he said.

Smith added as a player Bryant was a role model for many. He said Sunday as the community league was putting on a game for kids aged eight to 11, lots of people were talking about the passing of Bryant.

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Smith explained Bryant’s support and work to try to grow the women’s game was especially valuable given who he was.

“That’s huge for the women’s game to have that type of a figure associated,” he said.

Dwayne Gareau, who coaches the senior girl’s basketball team at Ecole St. Mary High School, said Bryant’s work post retirement with minor basketball is a part of his legacy.

Gareau said Bryant was very similar to Michael Jordan in the way he played the game. He added winning five titles in a major market like Los Angeles is a big legacy to leave.

Bryant’s ability to speak multiple languages was also something Gareau felt helped make him a global figure.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn

by Michael Joel-Hansen

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Locals reflect on passing of basketball icon

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