PRINTER'S NO. 1476
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
285
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY LEACH, DINNIMAN, IOVINO, A. WILLIAMS, BROWNE,
BOSCOLA, SCARNATI, CORMAN, FONTANA, LANGERHOLC, HUGHES,
J. WARD AND MENSCH, JANUARY 28, 2020
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, JANUARY 28, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life of Kobe Bryant and expressing heartfelt
condolences to his family and friends in Lower Merion and
around the world.
WHEREAS, Kobe Bryant, a PIAA, NBA and Olympic champion,
passed away on January 26, 2020, at 41 years of age; and
WHEREAS, A global icon recognizable and popularly referred to
by only his first name, Kobe's fierce competitiveness, singular
focus and unmatched work ethic on the basketball court inspired
millions of people around the world; and
WHEREAS, Kobe's spectacular talent and commitment to winning
were evident even when he was a freshman basketball player at
Lower Merion High School in 1992; and
WHEREAS, The Lower Merion Aces compiled an 81-33 record
during Kobe's four years as a member of the squad, during which
time he scored 2,883 points; and
WHEREAS, Kobe was named the Pennsylvania High School Player
of the Year for the 1994-1995 season, during which he averaged
31.1 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game; and
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WHEREAS, During his senior season, Kobe led the Aces to a 31-
3 record and a PIAA State Championship, averaging 30.8 points,
12 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4 steals and 3.8 blocked shots per
game; and
WHEREAS, Kobe was named the Naismith High School Player of
the Year, the Gatorade Men's National Basketball Player of the
Year, a USA Today All-USA First Team player and a McDonald's
All-American; and
WHEREAS, Kobe declared for the 1996 NBA Draft as a high
school senior and was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the
13th overall pick before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers;
and
WHEREAS, Kobe played all 20 seasons of his NBA career with
the Lakers, averaging 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and
1.4 steals per game; and
WHEREAS, During the regular season and playoffs, Kobe played
a total of 57,278 minutes and scored 39,283 points, both the
fourth highest in NBA history, and he won the NBA's Most
Valuable Player award in 2008; and
WHEREAS, During Kobe's tenure with the team, the Lakers won
five NBA Championships, including three in a row from 2000 to
2002, one of the rarest achievements in professional sports and
won back-to-back NBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards in 2009
and 2010; and
WHEREAS, The Lakers retired Kobe's number 8 and number 24
jerseys, making Kobe the only player to have two jerseys retired
by the same NBA team; and
WHEREAS, Kobe's 81-point game in 2006 ranks as the second
highest single-game point total in NBA history; and
WHEREAS, Kobe was an 18-time All-Star and won the All-Star
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Game's Most Valuable Player award four times, which is tied for
the most in NBA history, and he won All-NBA honors 15 times,
which is tied for the most in NBA history; and
WHEREAS, Kobe is expected to be inducted into the Naismith
Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020; and
WHEREAS, Kobe was a member of 2008 and 2012 U.S. men's
Olympic basketball teams, both of which won gold medals; and
WHEREAS, During his career and after his retirement, Kobe was
an active member of the Lower Merion community; and
WHEREAS, Kobe's number 33 Aces jersey was retired by the team
in 2002, and the school's basketball facility was renamed
"Bryant Gymnasium" after he made a sizeable donation; and
WHEREAS, Kobe's legacy continued to grow in retirement as he
mentored young players, raised his children in the public eye
and contributed to business and the arts, winning an Oscar in
2018 at the 90th Academy Awards for "Dear Basketball," a short
film based on a poem of the same name he wrote following his
retirement from professional basketball; and
WHEREAS, Kobe's contributions to the game of basketball and
to sports in general are vast and immeasurable; and
WHEREAS, On basketball courts all around the world, it is not
unusual for players to shout "Kobe" as they launch a jump shot;
and
WHEREAS, Kobe Bean Bryant, born in Philadelphia in 1978,
passed away on January 26, 2020, in a helicopter crash in
California at the age of 41; and
WHEREAS, Gianna Bryant, 13, the second oldest of his four
children with his wife, Vanessa, also perished in the crash,
along with seven others; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate honor the life of Kobe Bryant and
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express heartfelt condolences to his family and friends in Lower
Merion and around the world; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
Lower Merion High School, 315 E. Montgomery Ave, Ardmore, PA
19003.
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