AARON Black is a certified Kobe Byrant fan that he got emotional as everybody else when he learned about the untimely death of the NBA great.
The Meralco guard admitted shedding tears for his boyhood idol, whose first year anniversary death was commemorated a few days ago.
"I remembered we had practice at 8 a.m. and I couldn't focus at all in practice," recalled Black, recent winner of the Outstanding Rookie award during the PBA Philippine Cup bubble.
"I was wearing his shoes that day," added the son of champion coach Norman Black in the weekly sports program The Chasedown.
Bryant was with her 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others on their way to a basketball game on January 26, 2020 when their helicopter crashed in the city of Calabasas, West of Los Angeles, killing all passengers on board.
Sponsored content: The untimely death of the 41-year-old Los Angeles Laker legend shocked the entire world, including the young Black, who admitted up until now, he's having a hard time watching any interviews featuring the five-time NBA champion many considered as one of the greatest players ever.
"It's been a year now but I still can't watch his interviews. I have a hard time watching his interviews because he's really my idol aside from my dad. Growing up, he's really the guy I look up to in everything," said the young guard out of Ateneo.
Black didn't get to have a chance to see the 'Black Mamba' play in person during his NBA days, but was able to have a short conversation with him during his final visit in the country in 2016 when Bryant was already retired.
Aaron said he cherished every moment of it.
"When Kobe came here, I sat next to him when he went to Araneta," Black vividly remembered. "We had a quick conversation and I never forget it.
Sponsored content: "I asked him when was the last time he played basketball, and we had a quick conversation after that," he added. "Probably one of the best moments of my basketball career."
With Bryant as one of his inspirations, the 'Mamba Mentality' certainly lives on for the young Black
"It's just nice to see such a legacy in us," he said. (RG)
