Basketball star Kobe Bryant died on January 26 in a helicopter accident that also killed his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people. The world was shocked by the death of the 41-year-old former athlete, recognized as one of the best players ever in the sport. He also left his mark in Macau, a place he visited in 2008 and 2011.
January 26, 2020 will go down in history as one of the saddest days in the sporting world due to the death of Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash together with his 13-year-old daughter and seven other people.
Known as Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant arrived in the NBA at the age of 17 and played for 20 years for the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA titles and two Olympic gold medals (Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012). He is one of only seven players to have surpassed the 30,000 points mark throughout their careers.
It was precisely in 2008, in preparation for the Beijing Olympics, that Bryant came to Macau, to play in two preparation games against Lithuania and Turkey. The American basketball team was under a lot of pressure to win the gold medal in Beijing, after a disappointing bronze medal in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. They didn’t hold back and won the gold medal, beating Spain in the final.
Kobe returned to Macau three years later as part of an Asian tour. Although brief, the visit of the Lakers star player has stayed in the memories of those who had the opportunity to spend some time with him.
“He came to Macau, had a training session and then a question and answer session, it didn't last long. It was the first time that I had such an experience with an NBA player, it was very good,” says Andrew Wong. Macau's current basketball coach was one of the 30 youths who shared the basketball court with Bryant in September 2011 at the Cotai Arena.
“He was a very friendly person. My idol at the time was Michael Jordan, and Kobe was the new guy on the block. But after that, I felt that he was very dedicated to the sport, in such a way that he became the best player in the NBA. He was an idol for many people. I didn't feel that in the beginning, but he showed us how we can achieve our dreams”, Andres adds.
Despite his short stay in Macau, Wong still clearly remembers the gathering with Kobe Bryant.
“We played a game, and the losing team had to run for a while. I also remember the Q&A session – a student questioned what his plans were after the NBA, but he only talked about being champion,” recalls Wong, adding that the American played an important role in motivating the Macau youngsters.
Great star, simple man
Kobe Bryant returned to Macau in 2011 thanks to The Venetian Macao, who did not miss the opportunity to have the American star at the Cotai Arena for a sports clinic that brought together about 30 young people from Macau.
José Tavares, then president of the Sports Bureau, recalls the meeting with Kobe, describing him as “a simple man, even though he was a great star and one of the great references of basketball”.
“The NBA season was delayed because of some problems, and he toured here in Asia. The Venetian took the opportunity and brought him here, so I had the chance to meet him. It was through an invitation from The Venetian, everything was handled by them. I told them to take advantage of the occasion and do a clinic with the kids, and that's why I also invited the Basketball Association to be present,” says José Tavares.
Despite the short time that the American athlete was in Macau, the now president of the Municipal Affairs Bureau has no doubt that it was very positive for youngsters.
“Young people in Macau had other occasions, Yao Ming was also here, but we accomplished more with him [Kobe Bryant] because Yao Ming was with the kids, but he didn’t have a clinic, it was just a photo shoot,” notes Tavares, adding that Kobe Bryant's death "is a very big loss for basketball".
Edward Tracy, former CEO of Sands China, was largely responsible for Kobe Bryant's visit to Macau. On the occasion, Tracy highlighted how the athlete inspired those around him, both on and off the field, which is why he could not pass up this opportunity.
"Bringing international athletes to Macau like Bryant is part of our commitment to the community to broaden the range of entertainment options", said the former leader of Sands China, in World Gaming Magazine.
Recognized qualities, rivalries apart
Nuno Gomes is passionate supporter of the Boston Celtics, one of Lakers great rivals. However, the former international player for the Macau national basketball team stresses that “you have to know how to appreciate the player's greatness”.
“Kobe Bryant is part of that range of players that was above all the others, as was Michael Jordan, and now LeBron James. Michael Jordan is considered to be the best player of all time and there is no other player who seems more like him than Bryant. Kobe followed the style of the best player in the world and he got very close,” he adds.
Nuno Gomes, who became champion in Macau in basketball playing for Fu Kien in 2012, shares his admiration for Kobe Bryant, adding that “he was a competitor like few others”.
“When he was going to leave the game, he decided to score 60 points, before that he had scored 81, he is the second best scorer ever in a basketball game.”
Retired from the court as a player, Nuno Gomes is currently the coach of an U16 team in Macau. And it is precisely in the interaction with the younger players that he sees the legacy that the former number 24 of the Lakers team will leave.
"An interesting thing about Kobe Bryant is that this generation of players, any ball they throw, they say 'Kobe'. It is very interesting and happens frequently. The mark that Kobe left is interesting. It is because it is a difficult task, they all do it, because if Kobe could, they feel they can as well”, he concludes.
Vietnamese massages in Macau
The United States Olympic basketball team passed through Macau in 2008, before heading to the Beijing Olympics. In the final, the US team ended up snatching the much-desired gold medal, beating Spain by 118-107. Kobe Bryant was one of the stars of the game, scoring 20 points, in a team where names like LeBron James, Paul Gasol, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade were also present.
However, the American delegation's stay on Chinese soil did not end without some controversy. A Chinese newspaper at the time wrote about an alleged visit to a massage parlor in Macau which involved three athletes: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. The controversy arose during the stay of the North American delegation in Macau, where two friendly matches were held against the teams of Lithuania and Turkey. Kobe Bryant, however, was spared by the Chinese newspaper, which referred to the former Lakers player as an example to follow.
The newspaper wrote that the trio, who were staying at The Venetian, were taken to a sauna by limousine for a Vietnamese massage which lasted for about an hour and a half. Women are described in the article as “Vietnamese technicians”, known for their skills in working with sports players. The hour and a half massage cost around 1,500 patacas, and the article adds that the Americans were not generous with their tips, leaving only 200 patacas.
Michael Jordan mourns death of “younger brother” Kobe Bryant
Recognized by many as the best NBA player of all time, Michael Jordan mourned the death of his “younger brother” Kobe Bryant, saying he was a “fierce competitor” and a “fantastic father”.
“I am in shock at the tragic news of the death of Kobe and Gianna. Words cannot describe the pain I feel. I loved Kobe, he was like a little brother to me”, said Jordan in a statement.
The former Chicago Bulls star added he used to talk with Kobe Bryant many times, stressing that he will miss those moments.
“He was a fierce competitor, one of the best in the game and a creative force. Kobe was also a fantastic father who loved his family and was very proud of his daughter's love for basketball”, he added.
