Tracy McGrady: Kobe Bryant Said He Wanted to Die Young
Tracy McGrady appeared on The Jump this afternoon to talk about his friend Kobe Bryant and relayed a haunting tidbit. According to McGrady, Bryant used to speak about a desire to die young.
On an episode of the Jump, Tracy Mcgrady says that Kobe always said he wanted to die young and be immortalized. pic.twitter.com/YIXJatWRyQ
— Long Live Bean (@evolixmedia) January 27, 2020
"He used to say, 'I want to die young, I want to be immortalized,'" a tearful McGrady said to Rachel Nichols, who was caught off-guard. He added that Kobe wanted to have a better career than Michael Jordan.
"I thought he was so crazy for saying that," McGrady said. "I'm devastated."
In a 24-hour whirlwind of bad news giving way to even worse news, this revelation is among the most haunting. Bryant was candid and open about his relationship with death. It is still tremendously difficult to hear these words now, after that disquieting wish became a reality.
During a conversation in 2016, Kobe Bryant discussed his relationship with death.
— The Ringer (@ringer) January 26, 2020
"You can't have life without death. You can't have light without dark." pic.twitter.com/DUSVK4xj9N
One wonders when these comments were made and if Bryant's growth as a father changed that outlook over time.