Mamba Mentality

Kobe is always a fighter, his goal is to beat the opponent. At that time, the Lakers away game with the Heat, the Lakers eventually lost. This loss completely angered Bryant, because Kobe had a shot in the game. During the confrontation, Wade touched his wrist a little and failed to make it.

Wade also remembered that scene, and he clearly remembered that he did touch Kobe's wrist. The point is, after the game that night, Kobe called the development coach of the Lakers to work hard in the Heat's training hall until two or three in the morning.

Kobe told the Lakers development coach to intentionally touch his wrist when he was shooting. Kobe was trying to figure out that if my opponent touches me while I'm shooting, I'm going to have to practice getting someone to shoot when they touch my wrist, and the next matchup, they won't be able to beat him.

Wade clearly remembers the scene when Kobe was working hard at the Miami training center. "At that time, we were all dressed, and then a reporter came and said, come and see this, Kobe is training in our arena, and then I took off my clothes, put on the training equipment, and went upstairs to start. Training, just because we can't let him train alone on our site, but we don't have Kobe for long, let's withdraw first, let him continue."

This is the Mamba Mentality! Never admit defeat, work hard, and perseverance that is different from ordinary people.

Kobe Bryant is one of those athletes who has surpassed his sport. And the sport itself. Not just because of his talent, almost as charming as Michael Jordan himself, he copied movements, gestures and movements until they were nearly identical. But also because of its intangibles, because of the values ​​that make a person truly special: a bulletproof mentality — and excuses —, extreme competitiveness, a little-known work ethic, a general sense of knowing everything and everyone Curiosity, and greed on the pitch in contrast to that "killing" human warmth.

All of this was known when he played (20 seasons in the NBA, won five rings, won three MVPs, averaged 25 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists) and after retiring in 2016. However, since his tragic death with his daughter Gigi on January 26, 2020, his status as an athlete and individual has taken another level. But it's not because of the classic phrase "we'll all get better after we die," but because the number of anecdotes told about him by the other protagonists, almost as important as him, is a sign of the boy's premature abandonment of us (41), what a special thing to leave behind a huge legacy - especially for the youngest - but also a void that's hard to fill. On this note, to try it out, we chose the Black Mamba dance to really understand why it is so unique.

On January 22, 2006, Bryant had one of the best individual performances in history: 81 points against the Raptors, his second-ever score after the legendary Chamberlain 100. "A lot of very good players think they can score 50. Or 60. But I never set a limit. I thought I could go up to 80. And 90. Or 100, why not?", he admitted. That's what he's like, greedy and confident, relying on his talent and his effort to dominate the pitch.

A month before that historic game, Bryant had beaten the Mavericks -- who would be runners-up -- in the first three quarters alone by one more (62) than the entire rival team (the Lakers won 95-61). 61). Phil Jackson then took him out to rest, but knowing the ferocity of the ward, sent his assistant Brian Shaw to inquire if he wanted to re-enter for the record.

-Ask Phil if you want to go back in the first few minutes of Q4, maybe add 70 and leave. - No, other times I'm not interested. -Really? You have a chance to be 70, hehe. How many players scored this amount. You can stay for a few minutes, add eight points and rest... - no thanks, I'll do it when we really need it, when it really matters.

"Brian was upset. He told me he was crazy and I could go into history. And, honestly, I think it might go into the '80s. But I just don't think it's that night, I'm going to have another game like this. ," the guard admitted. Shaw isn't the only one who wants more. "I was mad at Phil because he kicked him out," admits Jeanne Buss, the franchise's senior manager and daughter of the team's owner at the time. Many want to continue enjoying the show and hope it surpasses Elle Franchise record for Elgin Baylor (71). But, again, Kobe was right... a month later, it's time to keep enjoying. There are also records.