via Getty
EL SEGUNDO, CA OCT. 1, 2012. Lakers star player Kobe Bryant is all smiles during the teams’ media day at their El Segundo training facility on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. (Photo by Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
via Getty
EL SEGUNDO, CA OCT. 1, 2012. Lakers star player Kobe Bryant is all smiles during the teams’ media day at their El Segundo training facility on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. (Photo by Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant might be one of the best players the world is basketball has ever seen. Dominating the game for more than a decade, Bryant’s trophy cabinet speaks for itself.
With his incredible skills to score the ball and to lockup other team’s best players, the Mamba’s basketball skills were simply unmatched. But the thing that made Bryant stood out of the rest is his insane competitiveness and his determination to be deemed as the best.
Be it the instance where he shot free throws despite tearing his ACL or him playing with a literal broken finger, Kobe just like his idol Michael Jordan wanted to be the best and break multiple records over his incredible career.
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READ MORE- Former AAU Teammate Reveals How Kobe Bryant Was Going to Be Among the Greatest of All Time
Former teammate reveals how Kobe Bryant was off the court
Often the most hard working player, be it on the court or off it, Kobe was one of the most intense players on the court. This intensity not only translated to opponents rather also pushed his teammates to improve their game.
But this intensity was not for everyone as there were instances of reports of Bryant being a harsh teammate emerged. Former teammate Tim Thomas though has a different perception on the Mamba. Speaking to NBA insider Scoop B Robinson, Thomas claimed that contrary to reports and popular belief, Kobe was indeed a great man and readily helped his teammates off of the court.
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Kobe Bryant was a GREAT human with impact says ex-Buck Tim Thomas.
“I mean, there were things that were said and put out there about the brother but just overall, you see in his body of work outside of basketball what he meant to the world & what he was about to accomplish.” pic.twitter.com/0y2e7uQZr4
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson 📍 (@ScoopB) October 17, 2021
While Bryant often would push his peers and would come across a difficult teammate initially, his motive was really to bring the beat out of others. Even ex-Laker and Spanish legend Pau Gasol had a similar path before ultimately becoming one of Kobe’s closest friends.
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His soft side was pretty much visible during his last seasons the league as well. Be it the connection with his daughter or the way he joked around with his fans and else, Bryant truly let go off the intense game mode.
Bryant certainly had made his mark on the court and had a massive impact off the court as well. It is unimaginable what Kobe could have achieved if not for his tragic passing.
