#MambaMentality
Kobe "Bean" Bryant, Vino, Black Mamba, the GOAT... Whatever you may call the man, fan or not, the respect for him should be at an all-time high. For everyone.
Legendary.
I have heard different reactions to the realization that the era of Kobe has ended and unfortunately I have heard people say things like, "Oh finally," "It was about time," "He should have retired a couple years ago," or, "Kobe sucked his last couple years." I have decided that I am not taking any sort of disrespect or discrediting the Mamba in anyway from anyone. You will strike me as someone extremely foolish.
As we were all expecting Kobe to announce his retirement when he did, I had been planning my tribute to him for over a year. There's a lot of information on this guy... Who knew?
People are not wrong when saying that Kobe struggled his last few seasons, but I do not believe that was an excuse for criticism. His last season was a season of reflection, perseverance, love, and admiration. Actually, that does not just go for Kobe.
Who knew that this kid from Philly, named after the Japanese beef, starting to play ball at age three, coming straight out of high school, would have so much NBA success? We should have all gathered the hint when Kobe's family packed up and moved to Italy to continue Joe Bryant's basketball career and Kobe had his grandfather mail him NBA videos for him to study. He also traveled back to the states during the summers to participate in summer leagues. The dedication started young and continues to this day for the 39-year old.
Before all of Bryant's NBA success began at the young age of 17, he had quite the high school career. The high school was Lower Merion High School of Pennsylvania where he was recognized as the top high school ball player in the country. Kobe accomplished every Freshman's dream... He played Varsity basketball as one. He did his thing playing all five positions. The following three years their team went 77-13. Not too shabby I would say.
Obviously Kobe had some of the top universities looking into him. You all know who decided to declare for the NBA Draft straight out of high school around this time? The one and only Kevin Garnett. This was not a very common thing, but anything is possible I assume. KG was only the fifth to do so. This was very influential on Kobe as he decided to follow in his footsteps. There are many people who love to hate KG, but I believe we owe him a 'thank-you' for this one.
Sorry, I had to.
Kobe's junior year was one for the books; averaging 31.1 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 5.3 apg, and was named AP Player of The Year. Not only did he have the top-notch universities wondering what this kid was all about, but the Philadelphia 76ers head coach at the time, John Lucas, invited him to work out with the team. Kobe actually played one-on-one with Jerry Stackhouse. A star was born.
Even though his junior year was one for the books, nothing beats a State Championship. Kobe brought his high school their first 'ship in 53 years. He did it all, too. 30.8 ppg, 12 rpg, 6.5 apg, 4.0 steals per game, and 3.8 blocks per game.
It is safe to say that Kobe ended his high school career on top. He was Southeastern Pennsylvania's leading scorer with 2,883 points. Who did he pass? Wilt. Chamberlain.
Are you convinced yet that this kid was destined to be something special?
No? Okay, well he also ended with just a few more decorations: Naismith HS Player of The Year, Gatorade Men's National Basketball POY, a McDonald's All-American, and an All-USA 1st Team player.
He also took Brandy to prom... So that is pretty cool.
Throoooowback.
Moving on to the NBA chapter of it all, this one was almost written completely different. Imagine Kobe NOT in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform. I know, it is near impossible.
But was almost reality.
Kobe was selected 13 overall in the 1996 Draft and was almost a Charlotte Hornet. The LA Lakers and Hornets agreed to trade just the day before the Draft. LA did not even express who they wanted to Charlotte until five minutes before the pick had to be made.
I am unsure if any of you have had to have your parents or someone else cosign for your first car or anything of equal value, but I do not believe it would have felt the same as someone cosigning your first NBA contract. This was the life of Kobe Bryant. Being drafted into the NBA at the young age of 17 caused for a cosigner. I don't think his parents had to think twice about that one.
And to think... This almost did not happen.
In Kobe's early career, things were going in his favor. He was named an All-Star in just his second season and won the 1997 Dunk Contest. You know, when legitimate people still participated in this event.
The 1998-99 season was pretty pivotal for Bryant. The Lakers traded Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel so Kobe was the next man up for the lock-out 50-game season, but this was all he needed.
1999 was the era of the Zen Master as Phil Jackson headed to LA to coach. This might be one of the most historical duets in sports history. Phil brought six Championships to the city of Chicago so the odds were in LA's favor.
I guess after achieving their three-peat, you could say that Phil was working out quite nicely. This was also the era of Kobe and Shaq (for the sake of this blog post, we shall leave it at that). If we are being honest with ourselves, they had a good run. Kobe became the youngest player to win three Championships and who knows how many more they would have won if they would have stuck together.
I know this may be surprising for you to hear, but brace yourselves... Kobe was actually getting compared to Michael Jordan. (WHAT?!) Oddly enough, this is still going on today.
Let's call the argument quits... They are both GOATs.
The year of 2003 was not really a year to remember for the Mamba. 2003 was the year of the sex scandal. Something like this will tarnish anyone's reputation and take a pretty big shot at someone's career. Kobe had a few absences due to court dates and such, but LA still ended up making the Finals.
... That is not all that Kobe lost that year. Shaq was headed to Miami. That Mamba mentality I have referenced was apparent after this loss. This motivated him. In case you were wondering, it worked.
There was actually a bright side to this catastrophe, Kobe and the Lakers gained Lamar Odom.
The next big thing, does 81 ring a bell? This was one of the biggest moments since... Well, since Wilt Chamberlain dropped 100 in 1962. 81 points happened on January 22, 2006 against the Toronto Raptors. This is also the season Kobe decided to go from wearing #8 to #24. We'll get back to that.
Oh, and then came the '08 Lakers? Everyone adored this LA team. Mamba, D-Fish, Odom, Trevor Ariza, Gasol, and Bynum.
.
Am I the only one who misses this squad?
Alas, have no fear! Good fortune was headed their way. Consecutive Championships came in 2009-10. Kobe obtained the MVP in both. Duh.
After Kobe was the youngest player in NBA history to reach 26,000 points, it kind of went "downhill" from there. I say this fearfully. Phil retires, injuries plague Mamba, and Father Time wants to chime in as well.
I do not find the need to go into detail of the injuries because it was painful to watch the first time.
So there's Kobe's career in a nutshell. A very small nutshell.
I am unsure how you all felt when the announcement was made, but I was distraught. Kobe was my Michael Jordan. I grew up watching this man and I am not the only one. One of the many people to speak on the retirement was Kevin Durant. "I did idolize Kobe Bryant. I studied him, wanted to be like him. He was our MJ."
We forever hate you, Father Time.
Every time I have tried to put into words what Kobe has meant to this generation and past decades I become lost for words. Magic Johnson, a Lakers legend himself, said, "There will never be another Kobe Bryant." Not enough to hear it from Magic? How about Allen Iverson?
"You brought so much out of me like no other player ever has. There will never, ever be another Kobe Bryant."
The most vivid memory I have of the Mamba does not come from the court (although I was privileged enough to watch him play on January 21, 2013 at the United Center in Chicago), but it came from a magazine. A magazine that talked about Kobe's work ethic. I read that Kobe would be the last one out of the gym, no matter the time. "Whether competing in the Finals or hoisting jump shots after midnight in an empty gym, Kobe has an unconditional love for the game," Adam Silver stated when asked about the retirement and what Kobe has meant to the league.
The beautiful family.
This has been the one thing that I remember most. Now sports have been a huge influence in my life and when people like Kobe come along (few and far between) it feels like Christmas.
Now the world of professional sports has evolved over the past few years... For better or for worse, that is arguable, but also a whole other conversation. If we are all being honest with ourselves, the mindset and work ethic of Kobe Bryant does not exist anymore. The exception? Timmy Duncan and his San Antonio Spurs. Coach Pop is not even a fan of the three-point line for crying out loud.
I apologize to all, but the LeBron James' of the world are not equivalent to what we have been blessed with from Kobe Bryant. (For all intents and purposes, that is not a dig on the King. We are in a different era, folks.)
A match-up that will be missed.
Kobe has been unique. The man announced his retirement through a poem. If you have not read that, please do you and myself a favor. It is simply beautiful. Kobe talks about his passion and his intimate love for the game of basketball.
"You asked for my hustle, I gave you my heart."
Again, it is no secret that the Lakers have been corrupt for the last few years. If anyone deserves to go out with the greatest ending to any career, I vote Kobe. An ending like Ray Lewis or Jerome Bettis would be perfect. Unfortunately the basketball gods could not pull off a miracle for the basketball god himself.
Oddly enough, Kobe didn't seem to be take the reality of retirement too roughly. I say oddly because the competitive nature and drive that he has is also something he has been branded with. The man likes to win, but he soaked in his final ride and embraced the love that he received during his final season. Did you see his final game in Boston? Wow. That was something truly special.
"Honestly, if I could chant for them, I would," Bryant said. "I don't think the fans here really understand how much they drove me. I wish I could do more to show my gratitude to them. I just try to say thank you as much as I possibly could."
All that you have done for us is thanks enough,
Mamba.
A picture really is worth a thousand words.
The final thing that I take note of and respect
of Kobe Bryant is his symbolism. That time that I said we would get back to the
whole jersey swap shindig… Kobe wore #24 in high school. Where did the #8 come
from? He wore #143 at an Adidas ABCD camp and added those digits together. The
first chance he was able to switch back to #24, he took it. I speak for every
athlete when I say that athletes are a tad superstitious about the numbers they
wear.
Now, Kobe’s shoes. On all of his signature
shoes by Nike he has the Mamba symbol (obviously), but one of his later shoes,
the Kobe XI, he put a twist to it. A twist that only Kobe could put on
something. Achilles was an invulnerable character within the Greek world and
his heel became his ultimate demise. This explains the graphic on the back of
the right heel. On the left heel there are four lines that represent the four
feet of thread that the doctors used for his 2013 Achilles injury.
I mean, come on.
The saying goes: Legends live forever.
I think this is the
most that I have written throughout my entire four years of college. For Kobe,
anything. I have much to thank him for. As a person of distinction, he gave me
meaning to sports, work ethic, and mentality.
“He’s given so much
to the game… I feel like that makes you the best ever.” I agree, Pau. I agree.
Five championships,
17 All-Star selections, 15 All-NBA team, 12 All-Defensive player, 4 All-Star
MVPs, 2 gold medals, 121 40+ point seasons, led the league in scoring twice, 3rd
on the league’s all-time regular and post-season, all-time leading scorer in
Lakers history (what a franchise to lead in such a thing). I am not done… One
of later accomplishments in his career was when he became the youngest players
to score 33,000 points.
What a mouthful.
Did I mention that he
has 20 season with ONE franchise. At the time of his retirement, that had never
been done either. Nowadays, not even a thing.
Oh what could have been...
The philosophy that
he found himself living by is that hero/villain mentality, that Killer
Instinct. Kobe’s killer instinct is what separates him from the rest.
“I treat this as life
or death, come hell or high water, it’s going to get done.”
One must ask someone
who accomplished so much, how do you want to be remembered?
“A player that didn’t
waste a moment. Blessed by the God-given talent. The person that was born with
a lot of talent, but did everything he could to overachieve and lived everyday
as if he was the 12th guy on the bench.” Chills.
Anyone in their right
state of mind shall remember Kobe as such. No worries, Kobe. Your wish is our
command.
That alone is a
powerful message to have and to live by, but I would vouch to say that Kobe’s
entire career has been the message.
The year was 2016, on
a Wednesday in Los Angeles, it all came to an end. I needed tissues, I am
unsure about you. This was the end of an era that we have all been blessed to
witness.
Thank YOU, Kobe,
Bean, Black Mamba, Vino… the GOAT himself.
The link to Dear Basketball posted on The Players Tribune:
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