13-Year-Old Took a Selfie with Kobe Just Hours Before the Crash — May Be Last Photo of Him

OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.

One of the last photos of the NBA legend, Kobe Bryant, was taken stealthily by a young fan on Saturday evening.

Brady Smigiel is a 13 year old that was playing in a basketball tournament being held at the Mamba Sports Academy over the weekend. Smigiel approached Kobe Bryant and asked for a picture. After learning that Smigiel was playing in the tournament, Bryant promised a photo on Sunday.

Here are the photos Smigiel was able to get of his idol.

Bryant was at the tournament coaching his daughter’s team and they had just lost their first game of the day, so Smiegiel understood that Bryant was is not in a mood to have fun and accepted the postponement.

Kobe Bryant and his daughter died on Sunday in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.

Fox News reported on one of the last interactions between a top tier athlete and one of his beloved fans.

“He kind of stopped Kobe on his way out the door, and just said: ‘Can I get a picture with you now?’” Dionne said.

“Kobe said, ‘Are you playing in the tournament?’ Brady said ‘yeah.’ He said, ‘I’ll get you a pic tomorrow.’”

As he was talking to Bryant, Brady snapped another blurry photo of Bryant.

Both Brady and his twin brother Beau are huge fans of Bryant and both “live and breathe” basketball, their mother said.

Nine people, including Kobe Bryant and his daughter lost their lives in the horrible accident on Sunday. Kobe Bryant’s influence went beyond sports and the Staples Center in Los Angeles has become an alter to one of the greatest athletes to have ever lived.

Kobe Bryant changed the game of basketball and moved on to change the world for the better.