That Jeff Hamilton jacket is too clean. I'm going to bring those back.
I think everyone expects the classic kobe fadeaway with the leg kick but this might be the most iconic pic of bean i can picture as well
This image is so quintessentially Kobe; a player defined by his polarizing nature in a moment of stark duality. He's won his second title and is in the middle of an event one would think is pure bliss, but his expression and posture denote fatigue and contemplation.
The contrast between him caressing his trophy while ignoring the champagne at his feet is a beautiful metaphor for how Kobe forsake clubs and partying for his love of and complete obsession with the Game. He was notoriously dedicated to his craft and here he is, in a rare moment where he can finally let go and be exuberant, only in this instant he's stoically alone with the fruit of his labor.
In the gleam of the trophy we can see a number of figures, three of them possibly teammates and one the photographer. In the background, a shadowy silhouette looms. He's close to them in the physical form but worlds apart in his mind.
