Kobe Bryant’s Life Priorities

“It is not that we have so little time but that we lose so much. ... The life we receive is not short but we make it so; we are not ill-provided but use what we have wastefully.” ―Seneca, On the Shortness of Life

In January 2020, Kobe Bryant, one of the most famous basketball players of all time, received a request from an ESPN reporter. She was preparing a piece on a significant milestone in Lakers history and wanted Kobe's perspective and comments. The interview could have been brief, possibly conducted via email or phone. The potential benefits for Kobe were substantial—increased social media engagement, higher clothing and shoe sales, and furthering his legacy. Like so many requests he had received over his life, it would have been easy for Kobe to say “yes."

However, Kobe declined, citing his busy schedule with his daughters: "Can’t right now. My girls are keeping me busy. Hit me up in a couple of weeks."

How often do we prioritize less important things over what truly matters? Working late into the night instead of taking our dog for a walk, scheduling meetings that interfere with family dinners, or answering calls during our children's activities. It's not that we have too much time but that we often waste it on trivial matters, saying "yes" without considering the unintended “no” to more important aspects of life.

If you ask anyone if family matters to them, they'll likely say yes. But do our actions reflect that belief? We claim family is important yet consistently make choices that contradict this belief.

Kobe and his daughter tragically died in a helicopter accident just two weeks after he shared his message with the reporter. At that moment, he couldn't have predicted his sudden death or realized the significance of choosing to say “no” in order to prioritize time with his family. Unaware that he was about to lose decades with his loved ones, Kobe still demonstrated discipline by cherishing every moment spent with them. While he couldn't control the circumstances leading to his untimely departure, he did have control over whether he would squander those precious minutes by declining the reporter's request.

And what about you? What are you saying “yes” to that is taking you away from more important matters? And how much more time do you have on earth? Of course, there is no way of knowing when you will go, so make the most of your time today. Stop saying “yes” to frivolous and unimportant things.

“Stop whatever you're doing for a moment and ask yourself: Am I afraid of death because I won't be able to do this anymore?” —Marcus Aurelius, Meditations