I’ve only ever wanted to be like three people in my life - my father, Kobe Bryant and Kanye West.

I’ve known my father my whole life, and though it’s weird to think about, I've known of Kobe Bryant for 20 plus years of my life. He’s been part of my life longer than people in my family.

For me, Kobe held the equivalency of power that Michael Jordan did for others. He was not only the best player, but also the face of the sport that I loved so much growing up. It was because of Kobe that I rocked a funny looking bush as an 8-year-old.

On more occasions than I can honestly recall, I argued about and on the behalf of Kobe Bryant as if I knew him myself. He was a representation of everything I wanted and aspired to be.

From NBA finals performances, dunk competitions, Olympic medals, and TV commercials, to even a stint in the music industry, there are so many epic Kobe Bryant moments that come to mind. It is really challenging to think of the fact that there simply will not be any more of them.

It doesn’t feel right, and it isn't right that Kobe's life and the lives of eight other passengers, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, were taken from us and their loved ones while they were on the way to do what they loved the most: play basketball.

Death is something none of us can escape but it doesn’t make its arrival any easier to deal with. The one thing that is guaranteed to us all seems to always be the most shocking. 

The life of Kobe Bryant will go down as one of the most-watched and unique ones we’ve had the pleasure to know, and I hope Heaven feels the magnitude of its gain, just as we do the Earth's loss.