Mary Zaia - Mamba Forever: Inspiring Quotes from Legendary Basketball Star Kobe Bryant

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Kobe Bryant was the Epitome of a Champion: his ceaseless drive, limitless talent, and deep understanding of the game of basketball inspired millions of fans. He achieved an incredible amount of success in his lifetime, but he never stopped setting the bar higher. Over the course of his career, he earned five NBA championships, eighteen All-Star selections, four All-Star MVP awards, and two Olympic gold medals.

From the time when Kobe, at the age of 19, became the youngest All-Star in NBA history, to the final game of his career, when he amassed 60 points and led his team to victory, Kobe made a habit of breaking barriers and exceeding expectations. Success, as he saw it, was inevitable, as long as you were willing to put in the work. While others might have tried to coast after achieving so much, Kobe kept at it.

Like everyone else, Kobe Bryant had setbacks and dark days. He created The Black Mamba, a menacing alter ego, to push past those personal struggles and unleash his ferocious talent on the court. He was always striving to improve as a player and as a man. Although Kobes life was cut short by tragedy, his legacy has taken on a life of its own and continues to motivate players and fans the world over.

The quotes in Mamba Forever reflect the passion and purpose that made Kobe an international phenom and a star. Let his words inspire you to fight your own demons, nurture your talents, pursue your loftiest goals, and take pride and joy in what you do.

BEING SUCCESSFUL
means
BEING RELENTLESS.

Twitter, June 28, 2019

Leave no stone unturned,
NO WATER LEFT IN THE SPONGE.

Sports Illustrated, August 26, 2014

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BE GREAT AT SOMETHING
you have to truly care
ABOUT IT. IF YOU WANT TO BE GREAT IN A PARTICULAR AREA, YOU
have to obsess over it.

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play,Kobe Bryant, 2018

IVE SHOT TOO MUCH FROM THE TIME I WAS 8 YEARS OLD. BUT TOO MUCH IS A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE. SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT MOZART HAD TOO MANY NOTES IN HIS COMPOSITIONS.

GQ Magazine, February 17, 2015

FOR SOME PEOPLE, I GUESS, IT MIGHT BE HARD TO STAY SHARP ONCE YOUVE REACHED THE PINNACLE. NOT FOR ME, THOUGH. IT WAS NEVER ENOUGH.

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play,Kobe Bryant, 2018

WATCHING THE GAME NOW, THE EASY SHOTS I MISSED, I COULD OF HAD 100 PTS! #COUNTONKOBE

Twitter, January 22, 2013
(after scoring 81 points in a game)

I THINK THAT GAME IS A TESTAMENT TO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT NO CEILING TO WHAT YOURE CAPABLE OF DOING.

ESPN, January 21, 2016

IM CHASING PERFECTION.

ESPN, November 21, 2010

I HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON WITH
lazy people who blame others for their lack of success.

Business Insider, October 13, 2014

JUST PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER, GO ON TO THE NEXT THING, AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING BETTER THE NEXT DAY THAN YOU DID THE LAST DAY.

USAToday.com, February 26, 2015

I AM A MANIACAL WORKER, AND IF YOURE NOT WORKING AS HARD AS I AM,
I am going to let you know about it.

GQ Magazine,February 18, 2015

EVERYTHING I SAW, HEARD, READ, OR FELT WAS VIEWED THROUGH THE LENS OF GROWING AS A BASKETBALL PLAYER. THIS PERSPECTIVE MAKES ME CURIOUS ABOUT EVERYTHING, MAKES EVERYTHING INTERESTING, AND MEANS THAT LIFE IS A LIVING LIBRARY WHERE ALL I NEED TO DO IS PAY ATTENTION.

Kobe Bryants Muse, Showtime, 2015

[MY HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER] HAD THIS BEAUTIFUL QUOTE AND IT READ,
Rest at the end, not in the middle.
AND I TOOK THAT TO HEART.

ESPYS Icon Award acceptance speech, July 13, 2016

IF IM AFRAID OF SOMETHING, THAT ONLY MAKES ME WANT TO DO IT MORE.

ESPN Magazine,January 7, 2013

ON THIS DAY 18YRS AGO THE HORNETS TOLD ME RIGHT AFTER THEY DRAFTED ME THAT THEY HAD NO USE FOR ME AND WERE GOING TO TRADE ME #THANKU #LAKERS

Twitter, July 1, 2014

BE YOU. THERES NO GIMMICK. YOU DONT HAVE TO CONTRIVE ANYTHING.

Bloomberg Television, July 22, 2014

YOU CANT BE HELD CAPTIVE BY THE FEAR OF FAILURE OR THE FEAR OF WHAT PEOPLE MAY SAY.

ESPN, November 12, 2014

WHEN WE ARE SAYING, THIS CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED; THIS CANNOT BE DONE, THEN WE ARE SHORTCHANGING OURSELVES. MY BRAIN. IT CANNOT PROCESS FAILURE. IT WILL NOT PROCESS FAILURE.

Kobe Bryants Muse, Showtime, 2015

NO MATTER WHAT, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LIKE YOU OR NOT LIKE YOU. SO BE AUTHENTIC, AND LET THEM LIKE YOU OR NOT FOR WHO YOU ACTUALLY ARE.

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play,Kobe Bryant, 2018

OVER THE COURSE OF 20 SEASONS, I SUFFERED MY FAIR SHARE OF SERIOUS INJURIES.
I never let fear or doubt seep into my psyche. I never whined and I never complained.
I MEAN, FOR WHAT?

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play,Kobe Bryant, 2018

The first time I was getting ready to face Jordan, I had a teammate, he goes, Hey, you want some advice? Whatever you do, dont look him in the eye. Wait, excuse me? Why the [expletive] would I not look him in the eye? I dont think my teammate understood that Im THAT too.

Kobe Bryants Muse, Showtime, 2015

YOU CANT MAKE THAT DECISION BASED ON OUTSIDE CIRCUMSTANCES. IT HAS TO BE AN INTERNAL DECISION.

NBA.com, November 29, 2015
(on his decision to retire)

We psych ourselves up too much. Like if you try to talk yourself into, Oh, this is a big moment, this is a big shot, youre putting a lot of pressure on yourself. You shot that shot hundreds and thousands of times. Just shoot another one.

Jimmy Kimmel Live, ABC October 24, 2018

IT DOESNT BOTHER ME.
I expect to be that good.

Sports Illustrated,April 27, 1998 (on the pressure of being compared to Michael Jordan)

WE ALL HAVE SELF-DOUBT. YOU DONT DENY IT, BUT YOU ALSO DONT CAPITULATE TO IT. YOU EMBRACE IT.

Sports Illustrated, October 21, 2013

IM KEEPING TRACK OF ALL
DOUBTERS AND HATERS.

Instagram, April 14, 2013
(in response to those who doubted hed return from a ruptured Achilles)

IF YOURE AFRAID TO FAIL, THEN YOURE PROBABLY GOING TO FAIL.

GQ Magazine, March 1, 2010

I realized he didnt kick my ass as bad as I thought he was going to and that there was nothing really to be afraid of. That was around the time I realized that intimidation didnt really exist if youre in the right frame of mind.