The Star Wars Character That Was Inspired By Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant's legacy lives on even in a galaxy far, far away.

On Sunday, January 26, 2020, the former Los Angeles Lakers player, husband, and father of four died at the age of 41 in a helicopter crash. The aircraft which was carrying Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven other individuals, including the pilot is said to have been flying through inclement, foggy weather conditions, which may have contributed to the fatal wreck. Bryant left behind his wife, Vanessa, and three other daughters.

In the wake of Bryant's death, fans have posted online countless tributes to him, remembering Bryant for the person he was on and off the court. During that remembrance, Star Wars enthusiasts have recalled Bryant's connection to the hallowed property: there's a character that was actually inspired by him.

The Kobe Bryant-inspired Star Wars character is a droid named K2-B4 a reference to both Bryant's initials and his number 24 Los Angeles Lakers jersey, which he began wearing during the 2006-07 NBA season after changing from his old number 8 jersey. K2-B4 appeared on three episodes of the third season of the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which takes place in the three years between the Star Wars prequel movies Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. A feminine character who uses "she/her" pronouns, K2-B4 also sports a yellow and purple color scheme the same palette that the Lakers use.

According to StarWars.com, at the time the Clone Wars animation department created K2-B4's animation model, the Lakers had won the NBA Championship. It's also been said that the inclusion of K2-B4 on the series was a nod to crew members who were Lakers fans.

A T-series tactical droid, K2-B4 served the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Her biography details that she's experienced a lot. She entered Lola Sayu, the planet containing the Citadel, without being detected; she got briefly tricked by battle droids transporting R2-D2, resulting in her altering Citadel guards to capture the droids; and she boarded a Lucrehulk-class Droid Control Ship but unfortunately failed to keep a group of Jedi masters out of Lola Sayu. If only K2-B4's win rate was as good as Kobe Bryant's!

As it happens, Kobe Bryant's ties to the Star Wars property extend even further than K2-B4. Keep watching the video to see the Star Wars character that was inspired by Kobe Bryant!

#RIPKobe #RIPKobeBryant #KobeBryant

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