You can capture the same balance as Kobe by choosing to use a style like Gothic text and combining it with softer elements like hearts, flowers, and butterflies. Or look for a more photo-realistic technique that celebrates his on court achievements, those he achieved as a parent, or reference the many images of Kobe and Gianna sharing basketball in the public eye; as many memorial tattoos have already done so.

When paying tribute to Mamba try also to envision the things in your life that are most important, alongside the memory of the superstar that attacked life ferociously, in his own way, with great will and spirit, and was passing those lessons along to his child.

Mamba forever.