The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE outpouring of grief continues as Bahamian athletes joined the international sports community in mourning the death of NBA icon Kobe Bryant and the victims of Sunday morning’s helicopter crash.

Perhaps no Bahamian athlete was more vocal about the nature of his relationship with Bryant than Buddy Hield.

The two forged a bond during Hield’s Final Four run in his senior year at Oklahoma. It was a meeting that would spawn private workouts, invites to camps and Hield penning an article with The Athletic to detail the influence Kobe has had on his life and career.

The Sacramento Kings guard took to social media late Sunday night to express his sentiments on Bryant’s passing.

“As a kid growing up in the Bahamas, you made me believe that anything was possible. The way you played, your passion, heart and drive for the game will have a forever impact on my life. I thank God for letting you be a part of our generation. You’re the greatest to ever step on the court,” Hield said. “See you in Paradise, you’ll be missed.”

Hield often wears different versions of Bryant’s signature shoes during games and often credits Bryant as the reason he chose to wear the number 24. The two shared an agent - Rob Pelinka - prior to Pelinka’s executive post with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hield and Bryant were formally introduced after Hield finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds in a Sweet 16 win over Texas Tech and scored 37 points to lead Oklahoma to victory over Oregon in the Elite Eight and Advance to the Final Four in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. “As soon as I saw Kobe was here, I knew I had to put on a show,” Hield said to ESPN “Blame it on Kobe.”

Three months later, Hield was selected as the No. 6 overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2016 NBA Draft. He noted that Bryant sent a text message following the accomplishment.

“It doesn’t matter where you go,” Bryant wrote. “It matters more what you do when you get there. Just go there and work.”

Hield also penned an article for The Players Tribune entitled “The Secret I Learned From Kobe” derailing the mythology around the NBA legend, his influence on Hield and a workout session Bryant hosted in Los Angeles.

“Kobe was a myth for me growing up. I’m from a neighbourhood in the Bahamas called Eight Mile Rock, about as far away from L.A. as you can get. But as a kid I only wore number 8 or 24. I watched a lot of Lakers games on TV. Those were the Shaq-Kobe championship years,” Hield said.

“Another story I’d heard about Kobe was that he has been known to arrive like 30 minutes early and if you’re not already there by then, he just bounces. That’s how serious he is about being early. So the night before I set like five alarms. I ended up getting up at 4am and just staying in bed, awake, till about 4:45. Then I drove to the gym to make sure I was there by 5:30. When I got there, it was still dark out. No one was there yet. I had beat Kobe to the gym. See … that’s the problem with myths. The story about him arriving early … I don’t even know if that story is true. I just believed it. Kobe was in my head already. At 6am sharp, a black Range Rover pulled up. Kobe got out, shades on, and said, ‘What’s up?’ We went straight to work.”

As recently as this offseason Hield was one of several participants in Bryant’s preseason camp for guards and heralded the sessions for improvements in efficiency to his game.

Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2016. He averaged 25 points per game for his career, won five NBA championships and the 2008 NBA MVP Award.

Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven other victims also died in the crash.

In his post retirement career, he expanded his involvement into women’s basketball as his daughter Gianna became more invested in the sport.

Bryant formed the Mamba Sports Academy and coached Gianna’s team.

Just last week, he made headlines by saying there were several WNBA players that are currently capable of competing in the NBA.

Following her Ole Miss Rebels’ defeat at the hands of No.9 Mississippi State, women’s basketball head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin also addressed the tragedy.

With her own daughter at her side, McPhee-McCuin placed Bryant’s legacy into context - particularly with the women’s game - as his daughter Gianna’s budding career was in its infancy.

“That was tough. Really I think if I were to elaborate on how much he impacted the game, not only on the men’s side, but with him having a daughter, the women’s side...there are no words to express the feeling we all have,” she said.

“I grew up in the Jordan era then Kobe came along. I wanted to be Kobe, everybody wanted to be Kobe so its surreal and I think that’s why I allowed one of my daughters to come in here and experience this because time is precious. We sit around and take for granted moments around our families. That was just a wake up call for everyone.”