Kobe Bryant was not just one of the greatest of the game on the court, but he was an inspiration to many of it too. Many young kids grew up watching Kobe Bryant destroy teams single-handedly. The Lakers legend immortalized himself with an iconic career in the NBA, but he was more than that.
Kobe was the ABCD Camp MVP in 1995. After six years, he got the opportunity to address the camp. Kobe’s words of wisdom have inspired many basketball players over the years.
The then 22-year-old addressed the camp, from where he himself had graduated, and gave some advice to the youngsters trying to make a career out of basketball. The old video of Kobe’s speech at the 2001 Adidas ABCD Camp has recently resurfaced on social media where he talks about the importance of starting a family.
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Kobe Bryant talks about starting a family in an old video
NBA journalist Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson has recently shared an old video of Kobe speaking to the youngsters at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck. In the video, Kobe Bryant explains the importance of starting a family and staying out of nightclubs.
“The important thing is finding a woman that you can spend the rest of your life with, man, and setting up your family. That makes me happy. Some guys might be different, but that makes me happy,” Kobe said at the Adidas ABCD camp.
Then a camper goes on to call Kobe ‘soft’.
To this Kobe replied: “That’s not soft cause on the court I will wear your a** out. Don’t get it twisted.”
Kobe Bryant talks about starting a family & staying out of nightclubs.
A camper calls Kobe “Soft!”
Kobe responds: “That’s Not Soft Cause On The Court I Will Wear Your Ass Out.”
This took place at the 2001 Adidas ABCD Camp at Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ. pic.twitter.com/PIcGIpatRV
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson 📍 (@ScoopB) October 8, 2021
These were few words of wisdom from the great Kobe Bryant. First of all, everyone should acknowledge the fact that these sentiments were coming from a 22-year-old basketball player. Secondly, this was potentially life-changing advice that he imparted to the youngsters and it can’t get any truer than that. Kobe already had two All-Star appearances by that time and was an NBA champion.
In fact, LeBron James was also part of the camp that year and got to watch Kobe’s words of wisdom. LeBron James became the camp MVP that year as an underclassman.
“I went to ABCD Camp, and he came and talked to the kids that was there and I was just listening. I was trying to soak in everything I could,” James said last year.
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The words of Kobe may have been about building a family and remaining focused, and it appears James took his advice. Since then, LeBron James has become of the best players in the NBA and has a happy family.
ALSO READ- NBA Pays Thoughtful Tribute to Kobe Bryant in Recent ‘Welcome to NBA Lane’ Video