Laker fans first became aware of him when the team traded All Star center Vlade Divac for the right to draft this high school kid as the 13th pick in 1996. I must admit, as much as I admired his basketball skills and drive to excel, his brashness and perceived arrogance put me off.
But soon he became known to all, winning 5 championships, earning All Star status 18 of his 20 years, and wound up third on the all-time scoring charts. The pic above shows his last game as a Laker, when he scored 60 points. And frankly, I’ve learned some spiritual lessons. In researching this, I discovered he had a deep faith, “you've got to pick up that cross that you can't carry - and He picks it up for you, and carries you and the cross - then you know.” [1]
Let me suggest his life gives us three ways we can carry that cross.
First, give your all. Speaking to basketball he once said, “I fell in love with you — a love so deep that I gave it my all, from my mind and body to my spirit and soul.”[2] Isn’t that how Jesus described genuine faith in Jesus? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). Granted, we don’t do this perfectly, but Kobe gives us an example of prioritizing faith. But do we strive to put God first?
Second, be willing to pay the price. “We all can be masters at our craft, but you have to make a choice… there are inherent sacrifices that come along with that.”[3] Kobe famously was the first and last at the gym. The work he put in was rare. Once more, Jesus said this first, "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him” (Luke 14:28-29). Following Jesus means we give up behaviors, attitudes, words and more, in order to more fully become like him. Are we?
Third, we grow. The Kobe I first saw seemed brash and arrogant. Kobe at the end demonstrated humility, grace, and a desire to benefit others. He died on the way to an athletic academy where he taught young girls how to play basketball, the right way. We too need to be continually growing, “Instead,… we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). I pray I’m evaluated by the person I became, not the person I was. Are we all growing in Christlikeness?
Kick Starting the Application
Of the three lessons from Kobe, which speaks to you the most? Why? Which do you most resist? Why? Here’s a challenge: with all the talk about Kobe, when you hear or mention him, try to remember one of these, and copy Kobe.
[1] https://www.christianpost.com/voice/kobes-biggest-game.html
[2] https://screencraft.org/2020/01/27/15-inspiring-kobe-bryant-quotes-for-screenwriters/
[3] https://screencraft.org/2020/01/27/15-inspiring-kobe-bryant-quotes-for-screenwriters/