A view of a mural of Kobe Bryant by artist Jonas Never on January 26, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Today marks the one year anniversary of the tragic helicopter crash which led to the death of nine people, including Bryant and his daughter Gianna. Frazer Harrison, Getty Images/AFP/File

MANILA — It has been half a decade since basketball legend Kobe Bryant departed following an untimely and devastating tragedy.

The 6-foot-6, former Los Angeles Lakers superstar, unfortunately met his demise on January 26, 2020, alongside his daughter, Gianna Bryant, and seven other souls due to a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California — a mishap that sent shock waves throughout and beyond the basketball community.

WATCH: Remembering Kobe Bryant five years after his death

But much like Kobe’s five NBA Championships, 33,643 career points, two Finals MVPs, 2008 Season MVP award, 12 NBA All-Defensive Team citations, Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement, two Olympic gold medals, and other achievements, the Black Mamba’s legacy has lived on and is continuing to inspire people across the globe.

“It means the world, it means everything. I was very blessed and fortunate that when I first came into the NBA, I was able to build a relationship with him," said former LA Lakers standout Kyle Kuzma during his visit to the Philippines in 2024.

Kuzma built a connection with Bryant despite entering the league after the latter’s retirement, and for the one-time NBA champion, linking up with Kobe has not only helped him in his personal career.

Kobe was criticized and, later in his career, was eventually poked fun at for hogging the ball from his teammates, but ironically, what the 6-foot-9 forward learned from him was how to pass things on, pay things forward, especially now that he is a veteran in the league.

"I asked him about a lot of different things: Basketball, life, business, relationships, what to do, and what not to do," bared Kuzma.

“Coming into the NBA at 21, 22 years old, and having someone like that as a mentor, it guided me. I took his words and did whatever I could with them. It is valuable, and now, my goal is to make others get better. I think I've had back-to-back career years, but I want to help somebody have a career year. I want to help somebody else improve.”

“I think that's the true sign of greatness in a player, to bring other people with you,” the Washington Wizards ace added.

Much like Kuzma, another NBA Champion has also made the most out of the lessons that he got from the Mamba — Bryant’s best friend and former teammate Pau Gasol.

READ: Kobe inspired Gasol to promote women’s basketball even more

“His impact really influenced and inspired me to get involved, and to get proactive in my role of support of women’s sport and women in the world,” said the 7-foot-1, two-time champion during his visit to the country in 2023 for the FIBA World Cup.

Before his passing, Bryant made his presence felt in promoting women’s basketball, with him even not only coaching Gianna’s team but also mentoring the likes of WNBA stars Diana Taurasi and Sabrina Ionescu, and this moved Gasol to continue Kobe’s mission.

“It’s not that he told me specifically his plans, [but] I know that he had plans as far as taking on a bigger role, becoming an ambassador for the Women’s World Cup,” said the Spanish hoops great.

“He wanted Gigi to have the same opportunities that he had. When we say Gigi, we say every girl in the world. He was part of that change, and it just inspired me, touched me, and opened my eyes. It helped me also get more involved, be more proactive like I said, and be part of the change and growth.”

“I would like to see more girls playing basketball when they’re young. We looked at girls playing sports, and we looked at the number of girls who stopped playing sports after their teenage years. I like to see those numbers be sustained or grown. I want for girls to see that if they want to become a basketball player, they can. They can have a fantastic living.”

“That’s what I’d like to see in the near future — more girls getting excited about playing basketball, playing sports, being active, being healthy, [and] fulfilling their dreams,” he added.

Aside from Kuzma and Gasol and their respective goals, Kobe’s legacy also extends into the Philippines, and no other than present Lakers star Austin Reaves did his part in maintaining what Bryant has done for his Pinoy fans.

“Kobe is my favorite player ever. I grew up watching Kobe and wanting to be like Kobe, so obviously, I grew up an LA fan," the 6-foot-5 Reaves shared during his visit to the country, also in 2024.

"Having the opportunity to play for LA, going to our practice facility, they all have the retired jersey numbers on our wall, obviously, 8 and 24, so every time I walk in there, I kind of just stop and take a moment and realize that I'm playing for the same organization that Kobe did."

That is why for Reaves — who has not only made himself a fan-favorite in Los Angeles but also in the Philippines much like Kobe did — there is a responsibility for him to share those lessons even with the supporters who are looking up to him over 11,800 kilometers away.

“We love it here, and being able to be an inspiration for kids out here, I cherish it. Thank you all for the love that you have shown me,” Reaves previously said, while also hailing the Filipinos as well as their potential and passion for the sport.

“The pure love for basketball that all Filipino fans have and the actual knowledge of basketball is very high. You don't get that a lot in the States. It's all about scoring there, but here, you can see multiple things that help teams to be successful.”

"So you just got to follow your dream. You can't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. You gotta go pursue it, 'cause if you don't, one day you'll come back and wish that you did," he added.

From empowering the dreams of a basketball-crazy country, paying things forward, and championing women’s sports, Bryant’s legacy has never been more felt, and it is even being set up for the good of those who came and will still come after his lifetime.

And there is no surprise to that, as Kobe — one of the greatest ever to play the sport — has always believed that stars, accolades, and heroes come and go, but legends and what they lived for? They are forever.