John Riordan: An impressionable generation developed their games while adoring Kobe Bryant

The La Lakers star passed away three years ago in a helicopter accident. 

DREAM TEAMS: Steph Curry, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo facing formidable opponents, Magic Johnson, Kobe, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Shaq, who shared the image online. Picture: @SHAQ

It's already been three years since the death of Kobe Bryant. Three of the longest years, admittedly.

The LA Lakers all-time great's brutally tragic passing - a Sunday morning helicopter crash that cut short a 40-minute commute to his daughter's basketball game - was the sort of stop-what-you're-doing newsflash that seems in hindsight to have prepared us for what was coming down the track six weeks later.