This is so heartbreaking.
As tributes for Kobe Bryant and the victims of the helicopter crash in Calabasas on Sunday morning continue to pour in, interviews which the former Los Angeles Lakers player had done speaking about his love for his family have only grown increasingly difficult to watch.
Related: Fan Shares Heartfelt Exchange While Mourning The Late NBA Star
Though he was viewed on a level above many, Bryant was not above one thing which plagues Angelenos on a daily basis: traffic. In a 2018 interview with Alex Rodriguez and Barstool Sports‘ Big Cat for The Corp podcast, the NBA legend explained how family time influenced his decision to begin opting for helicopters over cars:
“Traffic started getting really, really bad. I was sitting in traffic and I wound up missing like a school play because I was sitting in traffic.”
As you may be aware, Bryant resided in Newport Beach — which is about 50 miles south of Los Angeles in Orange County — with his wife Vanessa, and four daughters Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri.
In the interview, he reflected on how much time he would spend driving back and forth between Los Angeles and Newport Beach, and what that meant he was missing out on:
“This thing just kept mounting, and I had to figure out a way that I could still train and focus on the craft but still not compromise family time. So that’s when I looked into helicopters and being able to get down and back in 15 minutes.”
Between his training sessions and games at the STAPLES Center, business endeavors, and personal commitments, we can only imagine how much was on his plate. Though he had retired two years prior to the sit-down, Kobe remembered all too well how busy his days were:
“Weights early in the morning, kids to school, fly down, practice like crazy, do my extra work, media, everything I needed to do, fly back, get back in carpool line, pick the kids up.”
Because he spent so much time on the road for basketball, he was often away from home, but using his helicopter for travel allowed for more quality time with his beloved girls:
“Every chance I get to see them and spend time with them, even if it’s 20 minutes in the car, I want that.”
Our hearts truly cannot take this loss.
Watch more from the late star (below):
Our thoughts continue to go out to the Bryant family and the families of all those affected during this immensely difficult time
[Image via Kobe Bryant/Instagram.]
The post Kobe Bryant’s Reason For Frequently Taking Helicopters Will Bring You To Tears appeared first on Perez Hilton.