The tragic news that broke yesterday of Kobe Bryant’s death after the helicopter he was a passenger of, alongside eight other individuals including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, crashed on a hillside in Calabasas, California.

It felt like the world stood still when the news broke, it was hard to take in, with those not even familiar with basketball recognising Kobe’s significance.

The 41-year-old was truly an icon and many feel like they have lost their hero.

In 2015, as Bryant was approaching his retirement from basketball in 2016, Kobe wrote a letter to The Players Tribune, which not also announced his retirement from the game, but detailed his love for the game.

This letter would then become the inspiration for animated short film ‘Dear Basketball’, which Kobe narrates.

The 2017 short film would then go on to win an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards.

In the short film, director and animator Glen Keane, along with Kobe’s narration, depicts the basketball icon’s transformative journey, showing how Bryant started with humble beginnings, a young fan obsessed with the sport and his team, the Los Angeles Lakers.

“From the moment I started rolling my dad’s tube socks and shooting imaginary game winning shots in The Great Western Forum, I knew one thing was real, I fell in love with you.”

The movie shows Kobe was just like any of us. Fans of the sport we love, picturing ourselves in a massive moment surrounded by cheers.

Watching the short film now after the tragic news, it sends a shock down your spine, you can’t help being emotionally moved by it.

The final line in the short film “Love you always, Kobe” really hits you in the feelings.

The film is a reminder of just how dedicated Kobe was to the sport he loved and will serve as a piece for us all to reminisce just how much of an icon Kobe Bryant is.