Kobe’s Legacy: How the best become the best
Utter disbelief.
Surreal.
No words.
That was my initial reaction when my son texted me on Sunday afternoon. I was still in the gym cleaning up after our latest AAU tryouts.
“I can’t believe it. Kobe’s dead,” he wrote. “I’m sick to my stomach.”
“What!!!???” I texted back. “How … wait, what???”
Just a few minutes later, my phone began to blow up with texts from friends and family. All of them shared the same horrific news.
I drove home and turned on the TV. It was true. Former NBA superstar Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, had died in a helicopter crash while on their way to a basketball game. Maybe you felt that same sense of shock that overwhelmed me. Maybe you felt the same sense of numbness.
Three days later, it’s still difficult to fathom that the Laker legend and his beloved Gigi are gone. So abruptly. So tragically.
But after having some time to reflect on Kobe’s brilliant basketball career, and how he transitioned into a storyteller, an Oscar winner, a doting “girl dad,” and a mentor for young athletes everywhere, I think I finally have some words to share.
His footwork: Impeccable.
His workouts: Obsessive. (In a good way)
His will to compete: Unparalleled.
His love for the game: Infectious.
His talent: A little bit above average by NBA standards. (Yes, you just read that.)
Make no mistake, I am in full agreement that Kobe was THAT DUDE in the league from 2004 to 2010. Jordan had retired. Shaq was on his way down. LeBron and KD were still on their way up.
Kobe was the undisputed king of the court, but it wasn’t because of his immense physical gifts. Each year, there are literally thousands of players who stand 6-6, have outstanding jumping ability and can sprint the length of the court swiftly. You’ll find three or four on any major college roster.
Nope, it wasn’t only natural talent that led Kobe Bean Bryant to morph into the Black Mamba. It was a lifetime of work in the “lab.” Deliberate, relentless, meticulous, efficient practice. Not a moment was wasted. He maximized EVERY inch of his height, EVERY ounce of his weight, EVERY twist and turn of his body. In his prime, he couldn’t be defended. Even at age 37, following multiple surgeries and after his explosiveness had long vanished, Kobe’s tactical and mental capacities were still good enough to drop 60 in his final game.
He could shoot, pass, rebound, and defend with anyone. I was at the Q in Cleveland in 2006 and witnessed him not only contain LeBron, but SHUT HIM DOWN in a win over the Cavs. Quite simply, his game was flawless. He is, perhaps, the most fundamentally sound player I’ve seen. As my players will attest, I’ve shared countless Kobe stories inside the gym, and as an avowed footwork nerd, I’ve demonstrated dozens of his moves that I’ve studied. All while rocking my Mamba sneakers in his honor.
As I’ve watched film of his games, it’s evident that “flawless” was Kobe’s plan all along, especially during those famous 4 a.m. workouts. He had a pivot for any type of pressure. An up-and-under for every shot blocker. Always another move waiting if the first didn’t shake his defender.
At EnspireU, our mission is to help you become the best version of yourself. There’s no doubt that Kobe is the blueprint for how to do it.
Other than maybe Magic, Michael and Larry, no player has ever gotten more out of his God-given physical ability. And even more important, no one maximized their potential on and off the court more than he did.
And he did it all in just 41 years.
Love him or hate him, you can’t deny that he showed all of us how the best become the best. We all KNOW we should eat right, train hard, sleep well, focus on the process, have a “next play” mentality and devote ourselves to a higher calling. Kobe not only knew all of those things, but he DID them. Better than almost everyone else who laced up the sneakers.
Rest well, Mamba. You’ve certainly earned it.
With every shot fake, every pivot, and every step-through, your legacy will carry on whenever I’m teaching in a gym. One rep, one workout, one move at a time.
Because that, my friends, is how greatness happens. Kobe was living proof. And what a full life it was.
*****
Some of my favorite Kobe quotes …
“Those times when you get up early and you work hard, those times when you stay up late and you work hard, those times when you don’t feel like working, you’re too tired, you don’t want to push yourself, but you do it anyway. That is actually the dream. That’s the dream. It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”
“We psyche ourselves up too much. Like if you try to talk yourself into, ‘Oh, this is a big moment, this is a big shot,’ you’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself. You shot that shot hundreds and thousands of times. Just shoot another one.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it’s sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot.”
A few years back when Kobe was still in his prime, a reporter was watching him work out three hours before that night's game. By this time, Kobe was breathing hard and drenched in sweat.
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Reporter: "Why do you spend two hours every day doing fundamental drills over and over again? You are the best player in the world."
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Kobe: "Why do you think I'm the best player in the world?"
“What can I say? Mamba out.”