Kobe Bryant was not, but Kobe Bryant is. He is still here, living and thriving. No, he may not sit courtside ever again, but he will always live on in the way that we choose to live. If you have not read the news yet, NBA Legend Kobe Bryant passed away at the age of forty-one after his helicopter crashed in the Los Angeles area on Sunday. Alongside Bryant, his daughter, Gigi, and seven others passed away.
In his passing, we are quick to remember his illustrious basketball career and his ability to grow the game of basketball outside of the United States. Beyond basketball, he was a leader, father, son and teammate. In addition to his exploits on the court, Bryant was also a storyteller. He was an Academy Award winner and, as you will soon see, he starred in some of the best commercials over the last two decades. In an attempt to put a smile on our faces as we deal with this tragedy, here are the eight best commercials of the Kobe Bryant era.
Honorable Mention
Year: 2017
Brand: ESPN/ABC
The only thing keeping this from being in the top eight is that it’s not an actual commercial. Back in 2017, Jalen Rose’s star power was skyrocketing within ABC and ESPN and he ended up shooting a pilot for his own show, Jalen vs. Everybody. While the show didn’t go on much longer, Jalen’s opening promo featuring Kobe Bryant lives on to this day.
8. Kobe Bryant Challenges Mike Epps To A Game Of Horse
Year: 2008
Brand: Nike
Anytime Mike Epps is on the screen, it’s must-see TV. This time around, Mike Epps being on the screen is possibly the third most important thing going on. In 2008, Kobe Bryant introduced the Nike Zoom Kobe IV ID. To help out the former NBA star, the late DJ AM joined Mike Epps in a game of horse for a pair of shoes. Towards the end, Kobe comes in and challenges Epps to a game of horse for a pair of Air Yeezys, which were also new at the time. All in all, this commercial takes us back to a time when DJ AM and Bryant were both with us.
7. Kobe Bryant Kicks Michael B. Jordan Out Of His Trailer
Year: 2016
Brand: Apple
One thing that cannot be lost in his passing is his sense of humor. While he may be known for his seriousness and drive on the court, the former NBA MVP had an uncanny sense of humor off of it. His comedic timing and dry humor were on full display in this Apple commercial with Michael B. Jordan back in 2016. The two would also go on to star in an NBA 2K commercial as well.
6. Tim Duncan Challenges Kobe To A Rap Battle
Year: 1998
Brand: Sprite
Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan are the last two people that fans would expect to have a rap battle, but that’s just what happened as the two entered their own in the league. Not long after going back and forth in a laughable rap battle, the two transitioned into doing what they do best, playing basketball. Who happens to show up in the stands? Missy Elliott! All in all, it’s a special commercial that showcased two future NBA Hall of Fame players during the early stages of their careers.
5. Mamba Mentality Means Dunking On Some Kids
Year: 2000
Brand: Adidas
If there’s one star who would dunk on some kids and not feel bad about it, it’s Kobe. How are they going to get better if you go easy on them? In this 2000 Adidas commercial, Kobe was in the middle of his championship runs with Shaq, but he took time out to play one-on-one with a school kid who thought he had the skills to stop him. As you would expect, Kobe being up one quickly turned into Kobe being seven.
4. Kobe Bryant Enters The League With Adidas
Year: 1996
Brand: Adidas
Kobe Bryant’s first commercial set up for what would be an incredible run in front of the camera. In 1996, Bryant was fresh out of Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania with dreams of becoming better than Michael Jordan. Stepping into his own, he stepped into a commercial that uniquely represented who he was. He’s just hanging out, being himself and playing basketball. That’s who he was.
3. Stuart Scott Puts Kobe And Keyshawn Through Media Training
Year: 1996
Brand: ESPN
Losing Kobe Bryant is a lot like losing Stuart Scott. The two revolutionized their professions and left shoes that will never be filled. In this commercial, ESPN takes us back to happier times. In his rookie year, Bryant stars alongside Keyshawn Johnson as Stuart Scott comically prepares them to interact with the media as professional athletes.
2. Kobe Bryant Searches For His Three Rings
Year: 2009
Brand: Nike
Sports are meant to be fun and nothing is funnier than watching a puppet version of Kobe Bryant clown a puppet version of LeBron James about not having any championship rings. Now, it may hard to believe, but there was a time when some people felt that LeBron didn’t have it in him to win a big game. Capitalizing off of that, Nike and company put together a hilarious commercial that features the Lakers legend searching desperately for his three championship rings. In a matter of seconds, LeBron points out that they are sitting right there in his large, glowing championship ring case. This was just the first of many “Nike MVPuppets” spots that would air during the late 2000’s.
1. Kobe Bryant Breaks Down The #KobeSystem For Kanye West
Year: 2012
Brand: Nike
There’s only one commercial that could truly take the top spot. Nothing can ever take away from the hilarious exchange between Kobe and Kanye when Bryant asks, “But are you a different animal and the same beast?” This is a question that Mr. West is still trying to answer nearly a decade later.
