Patrick Thompson - Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant

The Inspirational Story of One of the Greatest Basketball Players of All Time!

Patrick Thompson

Introduction

T his book gives an inside look at the life of Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players to ever graced the NBA.

Kobe lives and breathes basketball. While other basketball legends fade into obscurity after retirement, Kobe is out there pursuing new endeavors and building a business empire. Its a testament to his relentless thirst for knowledge and never-ending quest to be better.

This book is a front row ticket to Kobes journey through life as he reveals how he used the Mamba Mentality as a blueprint to his success, whether on-court or off-court.

An insight into how his mind works offers an opportunity to replicate his success and achievements. It teaches about the value of hard work and commitment to the craft. Kobes rise to greatness is an inspiration to a new generation of young people who dream of making it big in their chosen fields.

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Chapter 1 Laying the Groundwork

K obe Bean Bryant started playing basketball at the age of three, largely influenced by his father Joe, who had a stellar basketball career in the NBA and in the European leagues. His relationship with basketball is a love affair that ignited the moment he started shooting imaginary game-winning shots using balled-up socks.

At age six, Kobe knew that basketball was going to be his life and everything else would take a backseat. It was a natural progression for someone who had been exposed to basketball at an early age.

The Bryant family moved to Italy so that Joe could continue his basketball career after retiring from the NBA. Italian was his first language, but the language he speaks best is basketball. Although he was away from home, it didnt stop young Kobe from learning about basketball. He would watch videos of Joes games and study them intently, learning every move.

Kobe also studied the games of athletes he admired the most. He would mimic the moves of Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan and pretend that he was a basketball superstar taking the buzzer-beater. He would be on the sidelines watching his father play and observing the nuances of the game that would become the love of his life.

But growing up in Italy meant that the lure of football was strong. It was almost like there was a pressure for every kid to play the sport. Coaches urged him to put his athletic abilities on the football field, which he did. Although he played football growing up, his passion and loyalty remained with basketball. He looked forward every summer because it meant going home to Philadelphia to play in the Sonny Hill League. Kobe was in his element when he played basketball. He relished every second of his time in the league.

When his father signed to play for a French team in 1991, the daily two-hour commute to his school in Switzerland took its toll on Kobe and his two sisters. It was a challenging and exhausting year for the family that a decision was made to move the kids back to the United States to continue their studies there.

When it became apparent that Joes playing career was over, the family returned to Pennsylvania and Kobes own basketball career started to take shape. With his talent and determination, Kobe made it to the basketball varsity team of the Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. The Aces made him a starter even though he was a freshmana rare occurrence in the history of the team.

Despite the hard work, the team did not do well in the tournament. It was a huge setback for Kobe because all he wanted was for the team to win. He had developed a winning mindset early in his life that it was tough for him to lose. But he did not lose hope. Instead, he worked to change the teams mindset and dynamics. Flashes of leadership and brilliance made him a valuable player in the teams roster. Soon, the team started to play better.

Kobes high school coach Gregg Downer remembered Kobe for his dedication to the game. He treated it like a battle zone and he was the fierce court general who rallied his team to victory. Even with a broken nose, he would play through the pain and just be a solid presence for his teammates.

It was not everyday that coaches would have a high school basketball player with such drive and maturity. Coach Downer ever had any doubt in his mind that Kobe would turn pro. In his senior year, he was scrimmaging with the likes of Jerry Stackhouse and Shawn Bradley and was holding his own against the two former NBA stalwarts.

Kobe developed a strong work ethic early in his high school basketball career because of his desire to win every game. To him, basketball was not just fun and games, it was a lifestyle. This kind of mindset endeared him to coaches and his teammates, but it was not always easy for him to socialize. Adjusting to the American teenage life was a huge challenge for him. He had a decent B-grade average, but academics was not the only thing that he had trouble with. Making friends didnt come easy. Its not because he was such a jerk in high school, but hes the type who gets too caught up with basketball that maintaining friendships is not really a priority.

Kobes lack of friends stemmed from his childhood spent in Italy. His family kept moving from town to town or to wherever his fathers contract took them. Fleeting friendships was the normal in Kobes world. Always being the new kid town made it difficult for young Kobe to build a lasting friendship with other kids who had been together for a long time. It was too much effort to get into a clique only to be ostracized for being an outsider.

In high school, Kobe had the work ethic of a pro basketball player. He had no time for activities that dont contribute to his development as a player. He was too strict to a fault, but he didnt mind the criticisms because he had lofty ambitions. Some might find his attitude bordering on cocky and excessively self-assured, but he is just being himself and speaking the truth about the one thing that he can be arrogant about.

Kobes unfiltered confidence may rub people the wrong way, but its part of who he is as a basketball player and a person. His trash-talking can hit a nerve or two, but it was just part of the psych war to disrupt his rivals. He is just fearless on-court and off-court because he is confident in his abilities.

Even before the Mamba Mentality became his mantra, Kobe had already been putting it to practice during his high school basketball career. When he announced to the world that he was taking his talent to the NBA straight out of high school, it was met with criticisms and raised brows.