Renowned NBA photographer Andrew Bernstein has seen many of Kobe Bryant’s finest moments in his capacity as the official photographer of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kobe Bryant's return from Achilles injury met with optimism by those who know – Daily Bulletin

Unfortunately for the league’s longest-tenured photographer, he was also there when the “Black Mamba’s” entire career changed in the blink of an eye.

The date was April 12, 2013, and the Lakers were battling the Golden State Warriors in their home arena. With a little over three minutes left in the game, Kobe attempted to drive past Warriors forward Harrison Barnes, when he fell to the floor and immediately grabbed his left foot.

Bernstein recalled how everyone in the arena instantly recognized the gravity of the moment as Kobe, clearly injured, hobbled to the free-throw line. His determination to take those shots left no doubt that their superstar was far from okay.

Speaking on “All The Smoke Unplugged,” the native of Brooklyn, New York, remembered how deafening the silence in the arena was.

“I had never been in a place that size where you could hear a pin drop because everybody knew something had happened,” Andrew shared. “It was such an innocuous thing—he made a move, and boom, went down like a ton of bricks. I was on the other end, so I actually had a good angle on it.”

“He was on the other side of the court. It was like the sea parted, and I was able to get a picture of him going right to his Achilles in that moment. Then Gary came out, as you remember, and they went to the bench. And of course, in legendary Mamba fashion, he goes out and shoots the free throws—only him,” Bernstein continued.

The injury took Bean down a road he had never been on before. Although the 6’6″ wingman had endured his fair share of injuries, he had always managed to power through them, often playing on sprained ankles or other nagging ailments. But this was different—it was a ruptured Achilles, a serious and career-threatening injury.

Andrew and Kobe had built a great relationship over the years, and the latter’s injury shook the former to the core. After all, many believed Kobe to be someone who was unbreakable, a player who always seemed to defy the odds and overcome any obstacle. But this time, his career was in serious jeopardy.

“I’ve never really talked about this, but I was so broken up when that happened. Here he was, in his 16th season, and you just knew—it had to be the end. I mean, nobody in their 16th season comes back from something like that. And he had already accomplished so much,” Bernstein disclosed.

The popular photographer, though, saw something behind the scenes that gave him hope that Bryant’s career would not end this way.

“I was in the hall when he came out with the crutches. His girls were waiting for him, Vanessa was there, and it was such a poignant moment,” he shared. “Kobe came out with a smile on his face because his girls were out there. From that moment on, he was positive.”

“Mamba” returned the next season and played in only six games. While he clearly was a shell of his former self in his last three seasons in the NBA, he still managed to captivate fans and foes with his resilience and competitive spirit, which culminated in his explosive 60-point game in his final appearance on the court.