This book pairs brief reflections and commentaries written by Kobe Bryant alongside iconic photos from the Los Angeles Lakers’ official photographer Andrew D. Bernstein to offer a view inside the mind and career of one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history. He was drafted to the league from high school and spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers. During that time, Kobe became a leader on his team and in the league, and he was admired for his unrelenting drive and commitment to becoming the best basketball player he could be. That, in essence, was the Mamba Mentality.
The Mamba Mentality came to transcend basketball—it applies to anyone who is striving to achieve greatness in her field. There is no single definition, but over time, it came to represent a mindset that encompasses hard work, obsessive preparedness, and dogged persistence on the journey to achieving a goal.
For the sake of clarity, we’ve grouped Kobe’s advice and reflections into the themes that represent the Mamba Mentality, including discipline, preparedness, and persistence.
From a young age, Kobe had an intrinsic motivation to do anything necessary to become a top-notch basketball player. Kobe wanted to be great, and he knew that, in order to achieve that, he had to work harder than everyone else and make sacrifices others were unwilling to make. Throughout his career, Kobe maintained a grueling schedule, which included both early mornings and late nights of practice, workouts, and film sessions. While other players eased up on their workouts during the season to avoid wearing themselves out, Kobe carried on. Although his schedule was tiring, it also helped him maintain endurance throughout the season and into the playoffs.
Kobe was strategic about practicing and improving his skills in every aspect of the game—and that started with fundamentals. Many other players neglected the fundamentals, to the extent that Kobe’s focus on the basics actually gave him an edge over his competitors. For example, while other players practiced dribbling crossovers, Kobe worked on making his footwork efficient, so that he could get where he needed to go on the court quickly while conserving energy. Kobe also made a point of having a versatile set of skills. His versatility had two primary benefits:
Above all, Kobe trained with a focus on staying in control. In other words, he worked to avoid letting his opponent limit or otherwise dictate how he could play. Kobe studied players across the league to learn their strengths and weaknesses, so that he knew exactly how to play against them. He was never intimidated by facing talented opponents—he merely adjusted his game accordingly.
Besides physical preparation, Kobe also trained mentally and emotionally. He worked on improving his focus—through reading, studying the game, and paying close attention to the coach during practice—so that he could be present and aware at all times. Kobe also knew that emotional highs and lows could derail a player’s game, so he made a point of staying calm and focused.
The Mamba Mentality is about the effort to reach success, not the moment you reach the finish line. No matter how many championship rings Kobe won (he won five), he always wanted more. Kobe had worked tirelessly as a player and team leader, and, although he demanded a lot from his teammates, he also did everything he could to bring them to victory. When Kobe did inevitably face losses, he carried on just as he would have after a win: He continued his workout, practice, and film-study regimen.
Kobe’s tried-and-true routine carried him through his entire career, down to the final game. The day of his last game felt like any other—until he walked into the arena, where the mood was somber. However, once the game started, Kobe played with the same passion, strategy, and intensity that had defined his 20-year career. By the time he retired, Kobe credited basketball with teaching him about leadership, human nature, and his own creativity. The Mamba Mentality had helped him achieve greatness in his basketball career, and it would continue to help him excel in his post-NBA endeavors.
This book pairs brief reflections and commentaries written by Kobe Bryant alongside iconic photos from the Los Angeles Lakers’ official photographer Andrew D. Bernstein to offer a view inside the mind and career of one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history. Kobe was drafted into the league from high school, and he spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers. During that time, Kobe became a leader on his team and in the league, and he was admired for his unrelenting drive and commitment to becoming the best basketball player he could be. That, in essence, was the Mamba Mentality.
(Shortform note: Kobe dubbed himself the Black Mamba after facing sexual assault charges in 2003. The charges were eventually dropped, but the incident still caused backlash and hurt Kobe’s reputation. In order to cope, Kobe created this nickname—inspired by Quentin Tarantino's 2003 movie Kill Bill—to separate his personal life from his alter ego on the court.)
There is no single definition of the Mamba Mentality. At first, Kobe just thought it was a catchy play off of his Black Mamba nickname. But, over time, it came to represent a mindset that encompasses hard work, obsessive preparedness, and dogged persistence on the journey to achieving a goal. The Mamba Mentality transcends basketball—it applies to anyone who is striving to achieve greatness in her field.
(Shortform note: For the sake of clarity, we’ve grouped Kobe’s advice and reflections into the themes that represent the Mamba Mentality, including discipline, preparedness, and persistence.)
From a young age, Kobe had an intrinsic motivation to do anything necessary to become a top-notch basketball player. His internal drive was always stronger than any external force. Kobe wanted to be great, and he knew that to be great, he had to be obsessive: He had to work harder than everyone else and make sacrifices others were unwilling to make.
At the core of his obsession was Kobe’s mental focus. He deliberately trained himself to improve his focus—through reading, studying the game, and paying close attention to the coach during practice—so that he could be present and aware at all times. Kobe was also unafraid to fail, because he considered everything a learning opportunity. When he discovered a new move or technique that he wanted to add to his repertoire, he didn’t shy away from the learning curve—instead, he practiced the skill endlessly until it was embedded in his mind and muscle memory.
Throughout his career, Kobe maintained a grueling schedule, which included both early mornings and late nights. Kobe realized that if he started his day early, he could fit in a third workout, rather than the standard two. What’s more, if he got up early enough, he could get his first workout done and be back home by the time his kids woke up. Kobe also did his last workout of the day after his kids went to bed, so that he didn’t have to sacrifice time with them. Sacrifice was inevitable, but Kobe determined what he was willing to give up, and what he wasn’t—he decided that he wasn’t willing to sacrifice workout time nor family time, so he sacrificed sleep.
Kobe maintained his rigid routine regardless of the season or circumstances. While other players eased up on their workouts during the season, in order to avoid wearing themselves out, Kobe carried on. Although his schedule was tiring, it also helped him maintain endurance throughout the season and into the playoffs. Everything Kobe did was purposeful and strategic—starting with his preparation.
Reflect on how people who are masters in their fields reach that level.
Name one person—either well-known or who you know personally—who is a master of her craft.
What are some habits or actions she takes to practice and improve her craft?
Are there other ways that this person exhibits discipline (for example, following a strict diet designed to maximize her performance)? If so, describe one or two.
If you know, name at least one sacrifice this person makes in order to achieve her goals.
An NBA game lasts for 48 minutes—but Kobe spent many hours preparing and training for each game. Kobe needed both physical and mental agility on the court, so his pre-game routine worked out his body and mind.
Kobe didn’t rely on a fixed warmup routine before games. Instead, he had a general circuit of drills. He always started by shooting close to the basket. Gradually, he’d move farther back, and, finally, he’d practice a variety of shots that he might need for that night’s game. However, the primary factor that dictated Kobe’s warmup was how his body was feeling—whether he felt he needed more shooting practice, a longer stretch, a meditation session, or a catnap, Kobe always listened to his body. This principle also forced Kobe to adjust his warmups as he got older, because his 40-year-old body needed a lot more stretching than his 20-year-old body had.
Kobe started stretching hours before a game. As game time approached, he gradually transitioned to more active movements with a broader range of motion. Kobe paid attention to detail in all areas of his career, and he was well aware that pain and stiffness in certain body parts could be symptomatic of tightness in a different muscle. Because of this, Kobe made sure that his ankles were active and limber, because ankle stiffness could cause pain in his knees, hips, and back.
Besides physical preparation, Kobe also prepared mentally and emotionally for games. When Shaq was on the team, he and Kobe joked around and talked trash in order to get their energy up for the game. This was important not just for their own preparation, but also because it set the tone for the team. As team leaders, Kobe and Shaq initially emanated high energy and levity, then grew more serious and focused as game time approached.
At the end of each game, when other players rushed off to shower and change, Kobe began his preparation for the next game by dedicating time to recovery. After every game—and every practice—Kobe spent 20 minutes icing his knees and shoulder in order to reduce the muscle inflammation. In this way, Kobe maintained a never-ending cycle of preparation.
Kobe was strategic about improving his skills in every aspect of the game—and that started with fundamentals. Many other players neglected the fundamentals, to the extent that Kobe’s focus on the basics actually gave him an edge over his competitors. While other players practiced dribbling tricks like crossovers, Kobe worked on making his footwork efficient. With the right footwork, Kobe could get where he needed to go on the court quickly while conserving energy. Additionally, as long as his feet were pointed in the direction he was going, Kobe could turn his head and upper body in a different direction to fool his defenders.
In his endless effort to enhance his game, Kobe was never intimidated or discouraged when he noticed areas where he could improve—rather, he welcomed the challenge. In the fifth game of the semifinal series at the end of his rookie season, Kobe shot four airballs that killed the team’s chance of advancing. Despite the disappointment, he never worried that his missed shots would ruin his career. Kobe was confident that he was destined to be an NBA great—he just needed to put in the work to get there. Kobe determined that he’d missed those shots because his legs were spent after a long season, so he started a weight training program to strengthen his arms and legs, and he came back stronger for his second season.
He also made a point of having a versatile, well-rounded set of skills. As a child, Kobe wanted his left hand to be as strong and agile as his right, so he practiced writing his name with his left hand. As he got older, he took the same approach with dribbling—he was just as strong at dribbling with his left hand as he was with his right. Similarly, he practiced shooting and passing from all distances in a variety of conditions. His versatility had two primary benefits:
Kobe trained with a focus on staying in control. In other words, Kobe worked to avoid letting his opponent limit or otherwise dictate how he could play.
As in any sport, playing basketball at an elite, professional level requires not just physical ability but also mental and emotional control. Players can get derailed if they get frustrated in the heat of the game, cocky and complacent when the scoreboard favors them, or discouraged and self-pitying when coming back from an injury. Although Kobe wasn’t immune to emotional highs and lows, he made a point of staying calm and focused.
While other players listened to music as part of their pre-game routines, Kobe adapted his preparation based on the mindset he would need for the game: If he felt a game would require him to be high-energy, he listened to music that pumped him up. If he felt a game would require him to be calm and focused, he listened to calm music. Sometimes, Kobe sat in total silence and took in the sights and sounds that surrounded him. This was a habit he had had since childhood, but when he started playing under Phil Jackson and learned that it was a form of meditation, he practiced it even more deliberately.
That state of mind also allowed him to be strategic on the court, and to use the insight he’d gained from watching film of opposing players and teams. Two, three, and even four opposing players often guarded Kobe when he drove to shoot a basket. Instead of shying away, Kobe considered defenders’ playing styles—whether they were likely to foul him or jump straight up to try to block his shot. Based on his guards’ tendencies, he then decided whether to pivot and pass to an open shooter or to drive through his opponents to the basket. Kobe’s thorough preparation and mental clarity enabled him to make these split-second evaluations in the midst of a game.
Consider how well your day-to-day habits are priming you to perform in the moments that matter.
Describe one mid- to long-term goal you’re currently working toward. For example, you may be striving for a promotion or trying to learn a new skill.
How—and how often—do you practice and improve in order to reach your goal?
What would be considered fundamental skills in this context (comparable to footwork in basketball), and how could you do more to refine your fundamentals?
What is a more advanced skill that you need to reach your goal, and how could you improve it?
The Mamba Mentality is about the effort to reach success, not the moment you reach the finish line. Throughout his 20-year career, despite his mastery of the game, Kobe never ceased learning and striving to improve. In 2003, he felt that he had reached his pinnacle and had become unstoppable—but he didn’t view that moment as the beginning of his decline. Instead, Kobe was driven to continue working and refining his game because he consistently looked ahead toward future goals, instead of looking back and admiring what he’d already achieved.
When Kobe joined the Lakers, he knew he was becoming part of an organization with an impressive legacy, where many of basketball’s greatest players had shone, including James Worthy, Elgin Baylor, and Byron Scott. Kobe worked hard to honor and continue that legacy. Although he was only 17 when he joined the team, the Lakers staff, players, and alumni quickly recognized Kobe’s drive and embraced him as a member of the Lakers family.
Once Kobe joined the league, his support team included people who were as obsessive and passionate about their crafts as he was about his. These people included:
As a professional—and a top player in the league—Kobe also had access to retired basketball stars, whose careers and techniques he admired. Kobe valued the opportunities to build relationships with these players, whom he could learn from and look up to. Kobe asked endless questions, and most players appreciated his attention and genuine interest. When Kobe encountered people who became annoyed with his questions, he shook it off—he’d rather be informed and potentially embarrassed than miss a chance to learn.
Among Kobe’s friends, teachers, and mentors were:
Kobe learned from everyone, including referees. He read the referee’s handbook and learned that each ref is supposed to be in a particular position on the court. With this knowledge, Kobe figured out where the refs’ blind spots were, and he was able to hold, travel, and make other small violations without getting caught.
Additionally, Kobe maintained friendly relationships with the referees. He appreciated the difficulty of their work: They had to think and act quickly, deal with high emotions, try to remain objective, and take the blame for bad calls. Kobe also hoped that his rapport with the refs would make them more open to his view when he challenged their calls.
In order to become great, honestly assess your strengths and weaknesses, and learn from your competitor’s strengths and weaknesses. Kobe’s film sessions were just as critical as his gym workouts. He watched tape of himself and also studied players across the league to learn their strengths and shortcomings, so that he knew exactly how to play against them. He was never intimidated by facing talented opponents—he merely adjusted his game accordingly. He explained his strategies for many of the NBA’s top players, past and present, including:
Kobe also knew his teammates’ strengths, and he found ways to collaborate on the court. For example, when Shaq was on the Lakers, Kobe didn’t merely rely on Shaq’s size and skills—he found ways to help Shaq by misleading defenders. Kobe made opponents think that he was about to take a shot (he’d even bring his feet off the ground as if to shoot) so that the defender would put his arms up to block the shot. When the guard’s arms went up, it created an opening for Kobe to pass the ball to Shaq to score.
As you strive to achieve your goal, you may find opportunities and lessons on the periphery of your craft. After the first decade of Kobe’s career, he’d competed in the NBA Finals in four out of five consecutive years, and he’d won three championship rings. Furthermore, he had scored a career-high 81 points in one game, the second-most of any player in NBA history. Kobe’s achievements earned him praise and recognition within the league, as well as opportunities outside of it.
When Kobe had the opportunity to design shoes with Nike, he was characteristically meticulous. He wasn’t concerned with making a flashy design—his primary focus was to create a shoe that allowed him to perform at his best. Kobe’s feet had to carry him up and down the basketball court every day, and he needed them to be comfortable, agile, and supported. The staff at Nike matched his passion, and they worked tirelessly to innovate and improve on the shoe design for each subsequent version.
A few years into the deal, in 2008, Kobe told Nike that he wanted to make a low-top sneaker. Kobe had been inspired by watching soccer players torque their ankles even more than basketball players, and doing it in low-cut sneakers. Kobe realized that basketball players’ belief that high-top shoes supported and protected their ankles was wrong—in reality, high-tops were actually weakening their ankles and decreasing their mobility.
Nike was initially resistant, but Kobe pushed. He was convinced that it was time for a sea change in the sneaker world—he just needed to convince others. Kobe even had to pitch his low-top Kobe IV shoe to Foot Locker, so that the retail giant would know how to sell the sneaker.
In 2008, after Kobe had won three championships, he played in the Olympics alongside LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and other basketball greats. Although Kobe was the senior statesman on the team, playing with the best players in the NBA elevated his game. Because Kobe knew that other players excelled at stealing, scoring, and other elements of the game, Kobe was free to focus on his greatest strength: defense.
Playing in the Olympics also gave Kobe the chance to play under Duke University coach Mike Krzyzewski. Coach K had met and formed a close bond with Kobe years earlier, when he’d tried to recruit him to play at Duke. During the Olympics, Kobe reveled in the opportunity to finally play under Coach K.
The biggest challenge of playing in the Olympics was the uncertainty. In the NBA, Kobe knew the practice, game, and travel routine. He was familiar with the buses, the training rooms, and the arenas for every game, and he could easily maintain his training and preparation routine. However, while traveling through Spain, China, Turkey, and the UK, Kobe didn’t know what to expect, so he had to adapt. Still, Kobe trained and worked out as best he could, and he maintained his mental intensity.
Reflect on resources you can use to continue expanding and refining your skillset.
Describe one area of your life in which you’re trying to improve your skills.
Name at least one person who excels in the area you’re trying to improve.
Have you worked with that person as a mentor or studied her skills from afar? If so, what did you learn? If not, how could you best learn from her (for example, reach out and ask to pick her brain over coffee, or watch YouTube videos of her using that skill)?
What other resources could you tap to increase your knowledge and skills in this area?
Many of the greatest achievements are hard-won. Regardless of your effort and preparation, obstacles are nearly inevitable—but they are not insurmountable. The way in which you tackle challenges on the road to greatness will determine whether you ultimately make it.
Despite careful training and conditioning, Kobe faced several injuries during his 20-year career—and he approached each injury as a challenge to conquer.
During the second game of the 2000 NBA Finals, Kobe suffered the worst sprained ankle of his professional career. However, he found a way to work around it: Kobe figured out which ways he could still move and how much force he could put on his ankle, and he adjusted his game to accommodate it. Kobe always planned and trained strategically so that he could dictate how he played on the court—instead of allowing the defense to force him into situations he didn’t want—and now that was more important than ever. After missing Game 3 of the Finals, Kobe was able to return for the rest of the series and maintain the play control that enabled him not only to play through his injury, but to win his first NBA championship.
After getting through the Finals, Kobe knew the injury would prevent him from playing much during the off-season. He needed something to rebuild his ankle strength and maintain his conditioning for the following season. After doing some research, he found that the solution was tap dancing. Kobe hired an instructor and spent the summer at a tap dancing studio, which strengthened his ankle while also improving his foot speed and rhythm. The benefits of his unorthodox recovery endured throughout his career.
Kobe hurt his finger during a game in 2009, and an X-ray revealed that it was fractured. Kobe’s immediate response was to ask his trainer to tape it up and send him back into the game. Although the trainer was incredulous, Kobe’s attitude toward injuries was that if it couldn’t get worse, he might as well play. From then on, every time Kobe was on the court—whether in a game or during practice—he played with a splint on his finger. The splint allowed Kobe to play through the pain, because he knew that his finger was protected from some of the impact.
In addition to the splint, Kobe’s fractured finger forced him to make another adjustment: He had to change the way he shot the ball. Throughout his career, Kobe shot off of his pointer and middle fingers. With his pointer finger injured, he had to alter his form so that the ball released from his middle finger. Kobe spent days shooting thousands of baskets in order to internalize and automate his new shooting form. And, at the end of that season, the Lakers went on to win another championship.
In the final three minutes of a game against the Golden State Warriors, Kobe tore his Achilles tendon. As with his prior injuries, Kobe initially tried to walk on it and determine if he could still play, but he quickly realized that was out of the question. As soon as he got to the locker room, Kobe began talking to his trainer and a surgeon about his options. The surgeon—who was also a minority owner of the Lakers—told Kobe about a new, promising procedure, but he would have to have surgery the following day, before scar tissue could form. Kobe immediately agreed.
Kobe faced a mental and physical battle as he recovered from his injury. Before tearing his Achilles, Kobe had noticed his body wearing down, and he knew he had to start thinking about retirement. However, after his injury, the public and the media speculated that Kobe might not be able to return—and that made him determined to recover and continue his career. Kobe refused to let an injury dictate when he would retire.
The Mamba Mentality is about continuing to strive upward, regardless of the heights you’ve reached. No matter how many championship rings Kobe won, he always wanted more. He’d worked hard to become such a well-rounded and dominant player, and he never wanted to feel defeat. When Kobe did inevitably face losses, he carried on just as he would have after a win: He continued his workout, practice, and film-study regimen.
Kobe’s tried-and-true routine carried him through his entire career, down to the final game. The day of his last game felt like any other—until he walked into the arena, where the mood was somber. However, once the game started, Kobe played with the same passion, strategy, and intensity that had defined his 20-year career. By the time he retired, Kobe credited basketball with teaching him about leadership, human nature, and his own creativity. The discipline and tenacity he had practiced throughout his basketball career would carry on into his post-NBA endeavors.
Reflect on how you make it over inevitable bumps in the road.
Describe one goal you recently accomplished or are currently working toward.
Describe one hurdle you faced in that journey.
How did you overcome it?
In the future, how would you avoid that challenge, if possible? Or how would you approach it differently?
As you work toward your goal, your hard work and commitment will make you stand out among peers and colleagues. Embrace that position, and use the opportunity to set an example and be a leader to those around you.
Kobe spent much of his career as his team’s leader, and that role came with many responsibilities. Kobe demanded a lot from his teammates, but he was also willing to carry the team on his back in order to win. At times, that meant scoring dozens of points a game, enduring physical pain, and pushing through mental and emotional exhaustion. He knew that his effort set the tone for the team.
As the team leader, Kobe also had to match up against opposing teams’ best players, like Kevin Garnett. Garnett was a strong defender with long arms, impressive athleticism, versatility, and a big voice for effective communication on the court. Kobe made a point to play hard against Garnett, in order to show Garnett’s teammates—and his own—that he wasn’t intimidated.
Kobe’s unrelenting drive to be the best had a major impact on the people around him. His teammates and coaches witnessed firsthand the traits and habits that characterized the Mamba Mentality, which included:
These stood out immediately to Phil Jackson, who coached Kobe from 1999-2004 and 2005-2011. When Jackson became the Lakers coach, then-20-year-old Kobe exclaimed that he was a student of the game, and that he knew about Jackson’s triangle offense and was excited to try it. The triangle offense system requires players to be disciplined because they have to maintain specific positions and spacing on the court—including three players forming a triangle on one side of the key.
The triangle offense system allows little room for players to go off-script, and, despite Kobe’s enthusiasm, he initially felt limited by its strict parameters. Jackson quickly recognized Kobe’s talent, but he worried that the young star was such a playmaker that he would put his own glory above the team’s best interest. However, Jackson worked with Kobe and taught him that team playing and collective discipline were the only way they could win the championship. From then on, Kobe put the team’s success ahead of his love of scoring.
With Kobe and veteran Shaquille O’Neal, the Lakers went on to compete in the Finals in four out of five years. After Shaq and the rest of the starting players left the team, Kobe became the team leader. From rookie to MVP, Kobe kept up his grueling schedule of workouts, practice, and film sessions. Although his teammates couldn’t match Kobe’s dedication, they all became better by striving to follow his example.
Reflect on what strategies you use to strive toward mastery.
Describe one area of your life (such as your work or a hobby) in which you work hard to excel.
What strategies do you use to improve? For example, do you practice, research, or work with a mentor?
Have your strategies evolved over time? If so, how?
How could you apply principles of the Mamba Mentality to your task? [text entry box]
June 1996: Kobe is the 13th overall draft pick. He’s picked up by the Charlotte Hornets and traded to the Lakers within a week.
November 1996: Kobe is the youngest player to compete in an NBA game.
1997: At just 18 years old, Kobe is the youngest player to score in a playoff game and the youngest to win the NBA Slam Dunk contest.
February 1998: Kobe is the youngest All-Star in NBA history.
June 2000: Kobe returns from an ankle injury to win his first NBA championship.
2001: Kobe wins his second NBA championship.
2002: Kobe and the Lakers sweep the New Jersey Nets to win a third consecutive NBA championship.
2004: Kobe and the Lakers compete in the NBA Finals—the fourth time in five years—but they don’t win the championship.
January 2006: Kobe scores 81 points in a game—a career-high record and the second-most of any player in NBA history.
2008: Kobe becomes the league MVP and the all-time leading scorer for the Lakers.
June 2008: Kobe and his Olympic teammates win a gold medal in Beijing.
2009: Kobe wins his fourth NBA championship, and he becomes the Finals MVP.
2010: Kobe wins his fifth NBA championship, and he’s named Finals MVP for the second year in a row.
2014: With 33,634 regular-season points, Kobe becomes the NBA’s third all-time leading scorer, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. (Shortform note: LeBron James surpassed Kobe’s record in January 2020, bumping Kobe down to the fourth spot.)
April 2016: Kobe retires after scoring 60 points against the Utah Jazz in his final game. Kobe’s 20 seasons with the Lakers is the longest tenure any NBA guard has had with one team.