You start streaming Kobe’s last career game against the Jazz on YouTube and see him drop 60 points. Every time he received the ball, he attempted a shot. The game’s over, Kobe does what he does best. What do you then think to yourself?
“This man was truly God-Gifted” or “A man born with unprecedented talent”?
When athletes perform well, people ascribe their success to their talents because it’s the simpler thing to do. A player scores 50 points in a game, and people think, “This player is inherently gifted,” and not as often, “This player must have worked hard before this game.”
In his 20-year NBA career, Kobe broke records and debunked myths. But he was not as much of a gifted player as he was a highly hard-working athlete. His work ethic was unparalleled. Kobe played from the summer at ten or eleven years of age and did not score a single point. For the next two years, he created an array of things: built a shooting routine and worked on his footwork and all the other fundamentals of the game. When the summer finally came, 13-year-old Kobe was better than all the kids in the neighborhood. Kobe’s legendary ‘Mamba Mentality’ started that day and became an everyday process.
Mamba Moments
The former Chicago Bulls point guard Jay Williams had some insights about Kobe’s routine. The Bulls had a game against the Lakers, and Williams wanted to get to the Staples Center at 3 AM and make 400 shots before the game. Once inside the court, he saw Kobe already working out. Williams did a 1-and-a-half-hour workout and sat down. But Kobe continued his drill for another good half hour. In the game, Kobe scored 40 points against the Bulls. But Williams tried to understand why Kobe practiced like that before a match. When he asked, Kobe replied, “Because I saw you coming in, and I wanted you to know that it doesn’t matter how hard you work. I am willing to work harder than you.”
Kobe started his training early in the day and life. His philosophy was If you wake up at 3 AM, you can train from 4-6, 9-11, 2-4, and 7-9, with rests or breaks in between. He did so much training by simply starting his day early.
The Redeem Team
Kobe Bryant was part of the Team USA, the Redeem Team, for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Chris Bosh, Kobe’s teammate in the Redeem Team and former NBA player, wanted to establish himself as a young leader for his team. On the first day of the training camp in Las Vegas, Bosh’s goal was to wake up at sunrise and be the first person at the breakfast table.
Bosh woke up, put on his gear, and went to the breakfast table, only to find Kobe drenched in sweat. Kobe already had ice packs on his knees. So, Bosh figured out that Kobe wasn’t already up but had also done his training. Kobe’s relentless dedication only days after losing the 2008 NBA finals against the Celtics was incomprehensible to Bosh.
Love for the Game
But how did Kobe find the patience and strength to put in such efforts? He had a raw and genuine passion for the game.
“I love the smell of the ball, the smell of brand-new sneakers, the sound of the ball pounding on the court,” said Kobe in an interview. His words just proved how much he loved the game. So, Kobe worked hard and practiced every day to improve his craft.
Isolation was Kobe’s strength. Kobe remembered living in Italy and having no friends. Because his family had to move around a lot, he could not form a connection with kids of his age, and no one used to invite him for stayovers or celebrations. However, loneliness became his solitude.
When others were busy enjoying life, Kobe used to pound the ball in his room for hours. He did not change even after joining the league. While players used to celebrate wins or party at nightclubs, Kobe used to work out relentlessly at the gym. Once, he mentioned that he had never taken a vacation in his entire career.
Mr. Fiske, Kobe’s English teacher at elementary school, had a powerful quote, “Rest at the end, not in the middle.” Kobe followed these words throughout his career.
Leaving Behind a Legacy
Why did Kobe work so hard? Why did he play through injuries? Because he remembered sitting in the nosebleeds and watching his favorite player, Michael Jordan, play. He did not sit out a game even when he was in pain because he did not want to disappoint his fans, especially the ones in the 300 sections, who saved to see him play once in their life. Kobe remembered what it was to be a fan and endured broken fingers, torn Achilles, high fevers, and every other adversity.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks Forward, said, “Kobe advised me to be a kid.” Just like any other person, Giannis was confused at the suggestion. When you are an athlete, you only, “Be a man, be strong.”
Giannis further elaborated that Kobe wanted him to be creative like a kid. Kids use their fantasies to do things we may find bizarre, like playing with rocks or diving in the mud. Also, kids are always curious. They want to learn, and so they question things. They always wonder, “Why am I going to school, or why does a car have four wheels?” Being a kid means your mind has endless possibilities. This is the mindset Kobe left behind for this generation of athletes.
Kobe had fierce competitors, but they were also admirers. They respected his work ethic and mentality.
Kobe’s demise was devastating for the game of basketball. However, his legacy continues. The classic “Michael Jordan VS Kobe Bryant” debate is still unsettled.
He was a Laker for 20 years and won 5 championships. But according to him, the best years of his career were the 15 years he did not win a trophy. Because those years shaped him as a man and a basketball player.
Kobe’s life taught this author, “If you put in the work, you get the results. If you want the best results, outwork everyone.”