August 23rd will always be a day of celebration, recollection, and contemplation, but it will also be a day of sadness and sorrow. Today would have been Kobe Bryant’s 45th birthday, and as wonderful as it is to remember him and everything he accomplished, it also aches that he isn’t here to celebrate his own.
But Kobe is one of the most famous and beloved athletes to ever grace an NBA court, and his influence extends far beyond the basketball court, as he was a mentor and inspiration to many people across the world.
On this day, so many people offer their birthday greetings and respects to Kobe, and this year was no exception. Of course, Kobe’s wife Vanessa wished him a happy birthday, as did his oldest daughter Natalia, who turned to Instagram to express her affection:
Of course, some current Lakers players would pay tribute to the Lakers legend as well. LeBron James, the current Lakers superstar, and recently retired forward Carmelo Anthony, a former Laker himself, both took to Instagram, as did current Mavericks star Kyrie Irving, and Kobe’s former Lakers teammates Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, and Pau Gasol took to Twitter:
Of course, the Lakers and the official FIBA Twitter account both wished Kobe a happy birthday:
Even though it is still terrible for Kobe to be gone, his birthday allows everyone he influenced to reflect on and remember all of the good he provided to us all.