At Kobe Bryant’s High School, Coronavirus Suspends Already Tough Basketball Season

Nor did Downer ever forget about Bryant’s ruthless competitiveness. He regularly worked at Bryant’s summer camp. One year, O.J. Mayo, then a guard at Southern California, approached Bryant and asked if they could work out together. Sure, Bryant said, “I’ll see you at 3.”

A day or so later, a puzzled Mayo asked Bryant, “Where were you?”

Bryant replied, “I meant 3 a.m., not 3 p.m.”

At some point, this spring or next fall, basketball and school presumably will resume at Lower Merion. Until then, Downer wonders, how will he fill his days with more than his thoughts?

“As I process this, I have to find a way to move forward,” Downer said. “My team needs me, my family needs me. Ultimately, that’s what Kobe would want.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/20/sports/basketball/lower-merion-kobe-bryant.html