Rare Instance of Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality Resurfaces: ”If a Guy Comes Out and Kills Me, I’m Not Gonna Let Him Kill Me. I’m Gonna Do Everything I Can to Stop Him”

Whether you are a fan of basketball or not, Kobe Bryant is a name everyone has heard of. He is regarded by many as the greatest player to ever exist, it is not only his on-court exploits that make him great. Moreover, his elite mentality and work ethic put him above everyone else. Although players may have won more than him, his overall impact will forever be remembered.

His elite mentality can be seen in a rare story talked about in the ‘I am Kobe’ podcast. One of the tapes played in the podcast talks about how if a person comes and tries to hurt him, he will do everything possible to stop that person.

A rare instance of Kobe Bryant and his Mamba Mentality

Eminent journalist Mike Sielski plays tapes about the years of Kobe Bryant when he was in high school. It can be seen how Kobe already had the ‘Mamba Mentality’ while he was still in high school.

A rare story narrated by Mike gives us an idea of his mindset. As mentioned in the podcast, ” If a guy comes out and tries to kill me, I’m not gonna sit back. I’m gonna do everything I can to stop him.“

This is coming from a guy who is still only 17 or 18 years of age! Bryant was already a winner, as he had that mentality while only being so young.

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Kobe in High School

Kobe Bryant was already a star even before making his NBA debut. He played for the Lower Merion High School and was the 13th overall pick for the 1996 draft. The Charlotte Hornets managed to sign the young prospect.

During his junior year, Bryant bagged an incredible 31.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. He went on to score 2,883 points during his time with his team.

In honor of Kobe Bryant, the Lower Merion High School basketball team retired his number 33 jersey.

What is the Mamba Mentality?

Kobe Bryant’s elite mentality is the most admired aspect of his. The ‘Mamba Mentality’ as he calls it, came after Kobe’s nickname, ‘The Black Mamba’.

So what is the Mamba Mentality? Here is how Kobe Bryant defines it.

“Mamba mentality is all about focusing on the process and trusting in the hard work when it matters most. It’s the ultimate mantra for the competitive spirit.  It started just as a hashtag that came to me one day, and it’s grown into something athletes — and even non-athletes — embrace as a mindset.”

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What is your favorite memory of Kobe Bryant? Let us know in the comments below.