Kobe Bryant: a Theoretical Approach to Understanding the Personal and Professional Life Trajectory of an Elite African American Athlete

Abstract

Information about Kobe Bryant has focused primarily on his outstanding achievements as an NBA player (81 points, 2 gold medals, and an Academy Award). In addition, since his death, January 20, 2020, focus on his role as a father, husband, and mentor has emerged in the spotlight. Collectively, these traits provide a framework for acknowledging, understanding, and questioning this legend from theoretical lens. There are few theoretical perspectives in the literature to explain his behavior. The purpose of this article is to provide a foundation to stimulate academicians to discuss Kobe’s behavior and accomplishments by applying Adler and Adler’s (1989) glorified self-theory. Kobe’s accomplishments and challenges will be delineated utilizing Mead (1956 revised 2018) and Goffman (1959) as backdrop theories with DuBois (as cited by Outlaw, 2019) as the final 3-point hoop shot. Recommendations for academicians to move away from media articles in the classroom about Kobe and consider the need to encourage students to theorize utilizing classical as well as contemporary theories in their class discussions about Kobe. In this manner, the promotion of further discussion can continue in the academic arena and not only in the world of sports. As students are motivated in the academic environment, more empirical research is encouraged to provide answers to questions that many elite athletes need as they struggle with their dramaturgical self as argued by Goffman (Kivisto & Pittman, 2013). It is our expectation that future research will provide elite athletes’ negative pressures, and challenges a chance to rise (Bryan as cited by Chang, 2020).