Flau’jae Johnson is proving time and time again why she’s a natural leader on the court this season. With six games scoring over 20 points in just nine appearances, she’s been consistently dominant. Her most recent performance, against N.C. Central, saw her top the scoring chart yet again. But this level of consistency doesn’t come by chance. It reflects her specific trait driven by the legendary late Kobe Bryant——something that head coach, Kim Mulkey, couldn’t hold on to admire.

LSU delivered a stunning performance against North Carolina, winning by nearly 100 points with a final score of 131-44. Flau’jae Johnson led the charge, scoring 22 points and topping LSU’s scoring chart for the 6th time. Naturally, Coach Kim Mulkey was asked about Johnson’s growth as a player during the postgame press conference. The HC couldn’t help but praise Johnson’s relentless work ethic which she is completely in awe of.

“I just think F (Johnson) has just this crazy work ethic. When you think about this kid gets up at 5:00 in the morning, she has to go to school, she has to do her music, she has to work on her game, then she has to come to practice, and then she has to you know. I don’t know how she does it but she does it and makes it work and she’s reaping the rewards from her hard work,” Mulkey told media. 

In her third year at LSU under Coach Kim Mulkey, Johnson has already achieved what many can only dream of—winning a championship in her freshman year. The junior guard also boosts SEC Freshman of the Year honors, an average of 22.4 points and 7.1 rebounds, a successful podcast, and a music career with over a dozen tracks and star-studded collaborations. She also teased the release of her next album later last month.

“It’s getting cold and I know y’all boo’d up, RnB 4 activated. I think it’s gonna be eight songs on the project. It’s gonna be beautiful, it’s gonna be well put together, it’s like a new me,” she said on her podcast.

No wonder Mulkey still finds her work ethic nothing short of unbelievable. Well, Johnson’s unwavering commitment to hard work comes from a powerful source of inspiration—the late Los Angeles Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant.

Flau’jae Johnson’s relentless work ethic inspired by Kobe Bryant

The 21-year-old proves herself as a leader both on and off the court. Drawing inspiration from basketball icons late Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, the LSU guard shared insights into her relentless work ethic during an episode of her podcast, Best of Both Worlds with Flau’jae. In the conversation, she opened up about the driving forces behind her dedication and passion.

She said, “My work ethic is off the charts. Sometimes, I be just getting a little upset feeling like people aren’t working how I’m working. ‘Cause, I’ll practice for 4 hours and stay in the gym for 2 hours and just shoot.”  Reflecting on a conversation between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, Johnson drew a powerful parallel to her own mentality. In the conversation, Shaq admitted that Kobe’s work ethic seemed unreachable, but it ultimately inspired the entire team to push themselves harder, leading to greater success.

Johnson also credits much of her incredible work ethic to LSU assistant coach Bob Starkey, who has played a key role in pushing her to new heights. “If I can get them to their highest level and their max level, that going to help me grow,” Johnson explained. And her growth is undeniable, evident in her standout performances this season.

With six games of 20+ points and a couple of double-doubles under her belt, she continues to shine. If she can lead LSU to their second championship, Johnson will solidify her status as a major prospect, making her future in professional basketball all the more exciting.