As the sports community and fans mourn the death of Kobe Bryant, who lost his life along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, an encouraging nugget about Bryant’s faith has come to the surface.
“God is great… don’t get no simpler than that bro.”
Back in 2003, a charge of felony assault was filed against Bryant, who was then age 24. But when the accuser refused to testify, prosecutors dropped the case. Later there was a civil suit that was settled out-of-court. This incident, whether it actually occurred or not, damaged Bryant’s reputation for a time and strained his marriage.
Later in a 2006 ESPN interview, host Stephen A. Smith asked Bryant what he learned from that very unpleasant experience. Bryant’s three-word reply, “God is great.”
Smith asked, “Is it that simple?”
Bryant repeats, “God is great… don’t get no simpler than that bro.”
Smith acknowledges and eventually asks: “Did you know it before that incident took place?”
Bryant, with great confidence replied: “You can know it all you want, but until you got to pick up that cross that you can’t carry… He picks it up for you and carries you and the cross, then you know!”
Here is that short interview segment from ESPN: