[Verse 1]

Throwback as a kid in 2002

Waiting for the TV to get done with the news

There he was Ernie J. on TNT

Going through pregame and there I see

In the background a 'fro wearing number 8

In purple and gold his shoes ready and laced

Knocking down j's like it was nothin'

His fadeaways were an instant bucket

[Verse 2]

There I was a happy kid who could not believe

The sight I was seeing made me so glee

He played just like Mike, but clearly wasn't

Far from the term "a dime a dozen"

Over the next decade or so I would watch this guy grow

From wearing 8 to wearing 24

And he (even) inspired me to play in hopes that one day

I could step on the hardwood knockin' down j's

[Chorus]

Kobe

As I would shout

As he took a fader

I hoped it would drop

Kobe

As I would shout

As his fader went in

He smirks at the crowd

Kobe

As I would shout

As he took a fader

I hoped it would drop

Kobe

As I would shout

As his fader went in

He smirks at the crowd

[Verse 3]

As the years went by the man aged like fine wine

Halting team USA from their decline

But then out of nowhere he tore his achilles

We watched sadly as he gracefully played out his last season

Far from his prime so bruised and beaten

Every game he took the court with so much heart

His Mamba Mentality kept him goin'

And on his very last game he dropped 60 points

[Chorus]

Kobe

As I would shout

As he took a fader

I hoped it would drop

Kobe

As I would shout

As his fader went in

He smirks at the crowd

Kobe

As I would shout

As he took a fader

I hoped it would drop

Kobe

As I would shout

As his fader went in

He smirks at the crowd

[Interlude]

(This one's for you, Black Mamba!)

At guard

Standing in at 6 foot 6

From Lower Marion High School

KOBE Bryant!

[Outro]

(Five-time NBA champion

Including the famous 3-peat from 2000 until 2002

And again, the repeat with Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and such in 2009 and 2010

He's a two-time NBA finals MVP

A recipient of an NBA Most Valuable Player Award

Two-time scoring champion

Eighteen-time NBA All-Star

Four-time All-Star Game MVP, which is tied for the most in NBA All-Star history

In NBA history, for that matter

Fifteen-time All-NBA

Twelve-time All-Defense

An All-Rookie Team

And a Slam Dunk Contest champion

He's also an Academy Award winner for Best Short Film

He's received an ESPY

And also a BET – a few times at that

He also has the most points recorded in a single game in modern NBA history

With 81 against the Toronto Raptors and Jalen Rose)