Mamba Mentality

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Mamba Mentality

What Any Father Can Learn from Kobe Bryant’s Legacy

Ever since I can remember, I have been a Laker. I remember pacing in my living room nervous as all hell because the Lakers were down against Boston. One minute I’m worried, and next thing I know, Magic caught the ball and did the baby hook at the free-throw line to win the game. We had finally beat the Celtics, and I jumped and screamed hysterically in celebration.

Kobe—The Early Years

I remember my own hoop dreams in the back yard with my friend Travis. It was Magic vs. Jordan—as if Michael Jordan was going to amount to anything.

We would be out in the yard for hours practicing, hoping for a chance at the NBA. After many AAU squads and basketball games, in 1996, it had become apparent that my hoop dreams were over. I was going in a different direction; I was going to college and joining the Navy.

That year, Kobe was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets straight out of high school and then traded to my Lakers for Vlade Divac.

I didn’t know who this kid was.

I just remembered the first time he had the opportunity to win the game, he air-balled it right out of bounds, but after his rookie year, we knew he was going to be good. We didn’t know how great he would be—yet. After all, it’s not like he won rookie of the year or anything. Next thing you know, Kobe, in his sophomore year, came out with a vengeance. He doubled his average points from the rookie season and won the slam dunk contest. Not to mention, he even took Brandy Norwood to the prom. He also teamed up with Shaquille O’Neal; it seemed like a championship was inevitable.

It was at this point that we began to understand Kobe’s mentality.

Becoming Relentless

We started to hear about Kobe’s relentless, high expectations for himself. His work ethic was rubbing his teammates the wrong way. Coaches and teammates would just arrive at the gym for practice, and Kobe had already broken a sweat. He had one goal in mind: to be better than Michael Jordan. He was constantly comparing himself to the greatest because how else do you continue to get better? How else can you intrinsically motivate yourself to the top?

Like Kobe, sometimes you have to set goals in your life and then ask yourself the following question, “Are you willing to do the work that the goal requires?”

As I was going into my own career, I had to ask myself the same question. “What are you trying to accomplish?” 

When I started having my own children, I had to ask myself, “Am I willing to do the work it requires to be a great father? In other words, am I willing to adopt the Mamba Mentality?  

Am I willing to go all-in? Am I willing to put in the work? Am I willing to show up for my family and be the best me I can possibly be?

We can all adopt the Mamba Mentality; we can all be like Kobe.

We can all wake up at 5 AM to work out and prepare ourselves for the day. Why? Because it puts us in the best position to accomplish our goals.

We can make sure we eat right. Why? Because if we take care of our bodies, our bodies will take care of our minds.

We can show up to work ready to go. Why? Because we lead by example—just like Kobe.

We can have goals in any facet of life, and be relentless about achieving them.

Everyday Mamba Mentality

Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality can be used in all areas of life.

I even use it for finances. I am wise with my money. Why? Because I want to ensure that I’m present for my family and that I give them an example of how to spend money wisely.

When you decide to work hard, not only are you working hard for you, but you are also working hard for your family. You need your spouse and your children to see what it means to have the Mamba Mentality. You need to set the example so that they have no excuse when they get older.

I want to be 80 years old, still working out, and I hope that my children are doing the same. If they are not, I want to look at them and ask, “why not?” I want them to have no answer. They will have no answer because I will be their example of putting in work. They will have witnessed me improving my own quality of life, so they will have no excuses. Nothing will make me happier than seeing my children grow up and fight for what they love in their life.

I took what I saw in Kobe and applied it to my family life.

Strangely enough, after Kobe retired, I loved the new Kobe, even more, the one who won championships. This man was relentless in his love for his children. In his new career, he was willing to try new things. He even won an Oscar for “Dear Basketball.”

I took off my sneakers long before he did and changed my hoop dreams to career dreams. Just like him, I started having family dreams and went on to have all girls as well.

I take pride in waking up every morning and putting in work to be an example for my family. I am relentless in my goals and my aspirations—just like Kobe.

In remembering Kobe Bryant, the best we can do is adopt that Mamba Mentality in our own life—in whatever path we choose. I believe if we do that, the world will be a better place.

We met Kobe as a scrawny high school grad; we saw his relentless work ethic. We witnessed his pursuit of greatness. We even saw his transformation from NBA star to family man. One of his goals was to be immortalized, and he has definitely achieved that.

For living out your drive and your transformation publicly—

thank you, Kobe.

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Photo by James Walsh on Unsplash

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