Scottie Pippen Was Devastated When He Found Out Kobe Bryant Died: ‘His Death Hit Me Hard’

Scottie Pippen wrote in his book that he was devastated when NBA icon Kobe Bryant died in January 2020. 

Bryant, one of the greatest players in NBA history, passed away in a helicopter crash at the age of 41. 

“Working with Kobe was a special thrill,” Pippen wrote. “For years from a distance, I had observed his growth both as a player and a man. To watch him up close, on and off the court, I was even more impressed. His death in late January of 2020 hit me hard.”

Bryant was an 18-time All-Star, a five-time champion, a four-time All-Star Game MVP, a two-time Finals MVP, a two-time scoring champion, a 15-time All-NBA Team member, a 12-time All-Defensive Team member and the 2007-08 MVP.

Bryant is fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He scored 33,643 points during his iconic career. 

During the Bryant era, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, and Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. Bryant won three rings with Shaquille O’Neal and two with Pau Gasol.

The Lakers retired both of Bryant’s numbers (8 and 24) after he retired in 2016.

Bryant averaged 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.5 blocks in 1,346 regular-season games with the Lakers, who have built two Bryant statues since his tragic death. 

Bryant’s final NBA game was on April 13, 2016, against the Utah Jazz at the Staples Center. It’s safe to say that no basketball fan will ever forget what happened on that glorious night.

In 42 minutes, Bryant scored a whopping 60 points while shooting 22-of-50 from the field, 6-of-21 from beyond the arc and 10-of-12 from the free-throw line. The Lakers outscored the Jazz 35-21 in the fourth quarter and came back to win, 101-96.

Bryant had 23 points in the final period, outscoring Utah all by himself.

Bryant was one of the toughest players in NBA history. He routinely played through intense pain and did whatever it took to win games, even if his body betrayed him.

After only playing in six games during the 2013-14 season following his Achilles tear in 2012-13, Bryant was forced to go under the knife again in 2014-15. The Lakers legend tore his right rotator cuff and had season-ending surgery in January 2015.

Bryant finished the 2014-15 season with averages of 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 35 games. Many players would have gotten their shoulder checked out when they felt pain, but Bryant was built from the same cloth as Michael Jordan.

One of Jordan’s biggest motivations was playing well every single game so that if there were a fan at the arenas watching him play for the first time, they’d be treated to a special show.

Bryant had the same mindset as Jordan. 

“I remember being a kid and going to games expecting to see the players play,” Bryant told Rashad. “It never occurred to me at the time that they might be tired, might be sore, might be sick. It never occurred to me. I just wanted to see them do what they do. I think about that.

“Doesn’t matter if I’m sick. Doesn’t matter if I have a sprained ankle. The kid that’s sitting in there might be the next me sitting up there watching and trying to get inspiration from that. I need to go out there and play.”