Jordan was just about universally loved by the media and the public. The media protected the hell out of him, especially regarding things like him being a top-shelf jerk to his own teammates. To the general public, by the time of his retirement, he was a revered global icon. He changed so much about not just the NBA but professional sports as a whole. All of the endorsements and Nike/Jordan Brand, etc. Wearing suits to games, tremendously well-spoken, calculating his every move in front of the camera, etc. He transcended like no athlete before him. He was the first athlete who was a business all to its own.
Tiger wasn't quite universally loved because golf is such a stuffy sport and crusty old men didn't approve of his some aspects of his personality but still, I would say that Tiger was just about universally loved by the public. I have no comment on Gretzky since I'm not a hockey fan.
Kobe was never on that level. He had plenty of detractors from the start of his career. His brash cockiness rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Drama with Shaq, drama with Phil, his reputation as a gunner and being uncoachable, his inability to relate to teammates, etc. Being called an MJ wannabe. His public image was nowhere near as calculated and polished as MJs. To be fair though, Kobe grew up with a camera in his face and MJ did not. Kobe may be the most polarizing basketball player of all time. It is true that an entire generation of young hoopers did idolize him. One can have a spirited debate on just how great Kobe was and ranking the players of his era but one thing is not up for debate: he was the face of the NBA for 2000s. Shaq may have been better at one point, Duncan at another, LeBron at another, but Kobe was always the it guy for young kids. That is why you see such an outpouring of grief. For the whole generation who were too young to watch Jordan, they had Kobe.
One of the best parts of seeing an athlete's entire career--especially one that begins at age 17--is seeing them grow up in front of our eyes and how they mature and grow and learn from their mistakes. Not every athlete goes through that transition--many fail to do so and their lives take tragic turns--but Kobe certainly did. I think it was obvious just how intelligent a human being Kobe was. He learned as much off the court as he did on the court and much of it intersected. Not everyone has Derek Jeter's poise and wise-beyond-their-years perspective when they're 21 years old. Kobe certainly didn't have it but you can't fault him for it. The average 20-year-old kid is cocky and thinks they're invincible, let alone a guy who's one of the most talented basketball players in the world before he's old enough to legally drink. The breakup with Shaq didn't help him in the eyes of many. Colorado was brutal for his reputation. But towards the end of his career and into his retirement it was clear how much he'd grown as a man and a father and hopefully as a husband. He loved his children, had a passion for life away from basketball, he was an ambassador for the game of basketball, and he was open and available and supportive of the next generation of NBA players. He was the beloved older brother of the current generation of NBA stars.
I think Kobe's life was a deeply human experience. People are not perfect. Life is not perfect. Kobe had the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, all in the public eye, and some people hated him but many more loved him. I think his growth as a man is why this hurts so much for so many people. He had grown into a model citizen was dedicating his life to helping others and being a great family man. We saw that he was going to contribute to society even though his playing days were over. He was going to do good things. Right things. Helpful things. I was never a Kobe fan and I'm not one to follow pop culture or be bothered by celebrity deaths but I was taken aback at how much his death has shaken me. He was a legend.
