The Mamba Mentality How I Play by Kobe Bryant PDF

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Life of Kobe...

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THEMAMBAMENTALITY HOWIPLAY

KobeBryant

ForewordbyPAUGASOL IntroductionbyPHILJACKSON PhotographsandAfterwordbyANDREWD.BERNSTEIN

 BeginReading TableofContents AbouttheAuthors CopyrightPage  Thankyouforbuyingthis Farrar,StrausandGirouxebook.  Toreceivespecialoffers,bonuscontent, andinfoonnewreleasesandothergreatreads, signupforournewsletters. 

Orvisitusonlineat us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup  ForemailupdatesKobeBryant,clickhere  ForemailupdatesAndrewD.Bernstein,clickhere

Theauthorandpublisherhaveprovidedthise-booktoyouforyourpersonaluseonly.Yo may not make this e-book publicly available in any way. Copyright infringement against the law.If youbelieve the copyofthise-book youare reading infringeso the author’s copyright, please notify the publisher at http://us.macmillanusa.com/piracy.

Irememberwhen,asakid,Igotmyfirstrealbasketball. Ilovedthefeelofitinmyhands.Iwasso withtheballthatIdidn’tactuallywantto bounceitoruseit,becauseIdidn’twanttoruinthepebbledleathergrainsortheperfectgrooves Ididn’twanttoruinthefeel. Ilovedthesoundofit,too.Thetap,tap,tapofwhenaballbouncesonthehardwood.The crispnessandclarity.Thepredictability.Thesoundoflifeandlight. ThosearesomeoftheelementsthatIlovedabouttheball,aboutthegame.Theywereatthecore androotofmyprocessandcraft.TheywerethereasonsIwentthroughallthatIwentthrough, putinallthatIputin,dugasdeepasIdug. Itallcamebacktothatspecialtap,tap,tapthatIfirstgrewinfatuatedwithasaboy.

Thisbookisdedicatedtothenextgenerationofgreatathletes. Mayyoufindthepowerinunderstandingthejourneyofotherstohelpcreateyourown. Justmakeitbetterthanthisone. —KB Tomyfamily,thanksforyourlove,support,andpatience. —ADB

here:NBAAll-StarSlamDunkContest,February8,1997,Cleveland here:GOLDENSTATEWARRIORS,October7,2001,Away here:MIAMIHEAT,January17,2013 here:Practice,1996,Hawaii here:Practice,1996,LosAngeles

FOREWORD

INFEBRUARYOF2008,MYLIFE CHANGED. Itwasapivotalmomentinmycareerasabasketballplayer,butalsoinmylifeawayfrom thesport.MypathalignedwithoneofthegreatestplayerstohaveeverplayedthegameI love. JustafewhoursafterbeingtoldthatI’dbeentradedfromtheMemphisGrizzliestothe LosAngelesLakers,Iwasonacross-countryflighttoL.A.,asoppositeacityasyoucan find.Thenextmorning,Ihadtogothroughamandatoryphysicalinordertofinalizemy trade.TheLakerswereontheroadandIcouldn’twaittojoinmynewteammates,soas soonasmyphysicalwasoverIgotonanotherplanetoWashington,D.C.Kobecalledme thatmorning,askingmetomeetuponceIarrivedattheRitzCarlton.Itwaspast1AM whenIfinallygottomyroom,andshortlyafterIheardsomeoneknockingatmydoor.It wasKobe.Tome,thatwasatremendousdemonstrationofatrueleader,andourmeeting hadahugeimpactonme,instantly.Themessagewasclear:therewasnotimetowaste,th momentwasnow,let’sgogetourselvesaring.Hismindsetwasunmistakable—itwasall aboutwinning. OneofthequalitiesthathasmadeKobesosuccessful,andalwayswill,ishisattentionto detail.Healwaysusedtotellus:ifyouwanttobeabetterplayer,youhavetoprepare, prepare,andpreparesomemore.Hisdissectionofthegamewasatanotherlevel.I’ma playerwhowatchesalotoftape,Iliketowatchmyopponents’latestgametoseehowthe areplayingatthepointthatI’mabouttofacethem,butKobetookitafewstepsfurther thanthat.Irememberitlikeitwasyesterday:wewereinBostonduringthe2010Finals andIgotatextfromhim.Hewantedmetocometohisroomtoshowmeafewclipsofho theCelticswerecoveringthepick-and-rollandhowweshouldattackitforthenextgame. knowforafactthatdegreeofdetail,bothinpreparationandstudy,wasakeyfactorinus winningthosechampionshipsandmanyofthesuccessesthatKobeachievedindividually. Inmyentirecareer,I’veneverseenaplayerasdedicatedtobeingthebest.His determinationisunparalleled.HeunquestionablyworkedharderthananyoneelseIhave everplayedwith.Kobeknewthattobethebestyouneedadifferentapproachfrom everyoneelse.Irememberatimewhenwegottogetherasateamtohaveourannual dinnerrightbeforetheplayoffs.Iwassittingnexttohim,andasweweregettingreadyto leave,hetoldmehewasgoingtothegymtogetaworkoutin.AsmuchasIwasvery awareoftheamountofextratimeheputinoutsideofourregularworkhours,italways shockedmehowdisciplinedhecouldbeevenduringarelaxedsituation.Wheneveryone elsewasthinkingitwastimeforbed,hismindwastellinghimit’stimetogetaheadofthe competition.

Overtheyears,alotofpeoplehavewonderedhowdifficultitmust’vebeentoplaywith Kobe.Itreallywasn’t.Allyouhadtodowasunderstandwherehewascomingfrom,what hewasabout,andhowbadlyhewantedtowin.Hewouldchallengeplayersandcoachesto matchhisintensity,hisdesire,tobringtheirverybesteverysingleday,notjustatgames, butatpractices,too.Kobewantedtofindoutwhatyouweremadeof,andifhecouldcoun onyoutohelphimwin,plainandsimple.Iwillalwaysbethankfultohim.Hebroughtthe bestoutofmeasabasketballplayer,andhemademeastrongerperson,too.Ourtimewa truly I’mtheoldestsiblinginmyfamilyandIalwaystrytobeanexampleformytwoyounge brothers,challengethemwhenIthinktheyneedtobeandpraisethemwhentheydeserve it.Kobeistheclosestthingtoanolderbrotherforme.Heneverhesitatedtotellmethings astheywere,neversugarcoatedanythingforme,andchallengedmealongthewaysoI couldgivemybestatalltimes.Throughthebestmoments,butespeciallyduringtheharder ones,ourbondonlygotstrongerandwehavealwayshadeachother’sbacks,justas brotherswould. Enjoythismagnificentbook,whichreflectssomeofwhatI’vesharedherewithyou,the qualitiesofanextraordinaryperson.Ihavenodoubtthatyouwillbeinspired. —PAUGASOL,teammate2008–2014

INTRODUCTION

WARNING:IFYOUAREGOINGTOINVEST YOURTIMEINREADINGTHISBOOK,BE PREPAREDFORANADVENTUREINHIGHLEVELBASKETBALL. ItwillcertainlyofferadeeperunderstandingofthedetailedanddedicatedwayKobe Bryantapproachedthegame.It’sonethingtohavetalent,butanothertohavethedriveto learnthe JamesNaismithiscreditedwithhavingsaid“basketballisaneasygame toplay,butadifficultgametomaster.”Thisisawindowintothemindofsomeonewho masteredit.ThecombinationofAndyBernstein’sexceptionalphotographyandKobe’s insightsmightmakeyouabetterplayerifyou’reinclined. KobecameintotheNBAwithadesireandtalenttobecomeoneofthegreatestplayerso alltime.Heachievedthatgoalthroughhisdedicationandperseverance.Theopportunityt playfortheLakers,ahistoricfranchise,gavehimanaudienceandaforum,buthislevelo successcameentirelyfromwithin. KobeandIfirstmetin1999attheBeverlyHillsHilton,onthedayIwasformally announcedastheLakers’coach.Wewereinasuite,beforeIwentdowntomeetmembers ofthepressassembledintheballroom.Kobewantedtoimpressuponmehowhappyhewa tohavetheopportunitytoplayinthetrianglesystem—andhowmuchhealreadyknew aboutit.Hewasalreadya“studentofthegame,”andhadstudiedvariousaspectsofthe offense.Herehewas,20yearsold,soundinglikehe’dbeenaproforadecade. Bynature,thetriangleoffenseisconfininganddisciplined.Thereislittleroomfora playertojustgorogue.Itwasaplanned,programmedwaytoplay.Pushtheballupcourt andlookforanearlyshot;ifit’snotthere,buildthetriangle;readhowtheopponent’s defenseisgoingtoreact;attacktheirweaknessandapplyyourstrengths.Mytwinsonsar justoneyearyoungerthanKobe,soatthatpointIhadaprettygoodperspectiveonyoung menandtheirvaryingabilitytofocusontasks.Ihadalsohadtheprivilegeofcoachinga numberofplayerswhohadsaidthesamethingduringmytenurewiththeChicagoBulls. Evenatthatyoungage,though,Kobekepttruetohiswordaboutbeingastudentofthe game. Kobeactuallybrokeaboneinhiswristtheveryfirstgameofpreseasonthatyear,and missedthefirst14games.Wehadgottenofftoagoodstartwithouthim,andIwas concernedhemightrequiresome“break-in”timetofitintothemix.Itwasn’taproblem.H kepttheteamwinningashisfirstpriorityandwekeptrolling. Amonthorsoafterhereturnedtoactiveplay,IreceivedacallfromJerryWest,who

wantedtorelayaconversationhe’dhadwithKobe.Kobehadcalledtoaskhimhowheand ElginBaylorhadbothbeenabletoscore30-pluspointsagamewhilesharingtheballonth sameteambackinthe1960s.AfterJerryprobedabit,Kobeadmittedhewasworriedhe wasn’tgoingtoscoreenoughpointstobecome“oneofthegreatestplayersintheNBA.” Thisconcernedme,becauseasacoachIdidn’tcarehowmanypointsaplayerscored—onl thefinalnumbersonthescoreboard.ButKobeknewwhathewascapableofdoing,andfel limitedbyoursystem.Thatclashhadallthewarningsignsofbecomingaproblem.Of course,therewasrealsubstancebehindhisdrive—hewentontototal33,643pointsinhis career,aheadofMichaelJordanandjustbehindKarlMaloneandKareemAbdul-Jabbar. Thatfirstyear,KobeplayedalongsideRonHarperinatwo-guardsystematthetopofth floor.Theywereinchargeof“settingthetable”—recognizingwhenthefastbreakwasove secondaryactionwaslimited,anditwastimetosetupthetrianglesystem.Naturally,ther wasalwaysatemptationtopushtheenvelope,andsometimesKobewouldgorogue.He’d breakfromtheplantocreateanopportunityforhimself,anditwouldjamupouroffensiv flow.Sowehadourconversationsaboutnottryingtotakeoveragame.Wealsohadour filmsessions,centeringonwhatskillsmadeaguardagoodplaymaker.Inretrospect,Kobe wasaspatientwithmeasIwaswithhim.Wetoleratedeachother,andtheresultwasthat hecametounderstandhowdisciplinedourteamhadtobecomeinordertowinthatcovete championship.Asmuchashelovedtoscore,Kobeusuallykneworintuitedwhattheright thingtodofortheteamwasinthemoment. TheLakershadbeenabridesmaidthepasttwoseasons,winningatonofgamesbut gettingsweptoutofsuccessiveplayoffs.Shoulderingthepressurethatcamewiththat history,Kobe,ofcourse,madetheplays.TheLakersgotoverthestigmaofcomingupshor andwentontowinthreechampionshipsinarow.Eachofthoseyearswasdramaticand fullofmemorablegamesandmoments.Kobewasthedrivingforce,whileShaquilleO’Neal theDiesel,wasthefocalpointoftheoffense—“Gettheballtothebigfella,”aswe’dsay. ThegroupofLakerswenttofourfinalsinfiveyears,inessencecreatingadynasty. ThenextsegmentofKobe’scareerwaswhenhismaturationtookplace.AftertheShaqKobeeracametoaclose,hebecametheseniorstatesmanforateamthathadlostallofits otherstartersviaretirementortrade.Hewasthemajorthrustoftheteamanditsnominal leader,perhapsbydefault.Andleadershipisatoughthingtomaster,especiallywhenyou knowachampionshipisbeyondthereachofyourpersonnel. AtonepointinourearlyyearswiththeLakers,KobeandIstoodtogetherbeforepractic andwatchedfiveoftheotherplayersholdashootingcontest.Itwassimilartothegame “Cat,”whereaplayerhadtomirrorandmatchtheshooterbeforehim,orhewas eliminated.Theyhadaskedmetoholdoffthestartofpracticebecausethegamewent aroundtheentirearc,usingbothcorners,bothwings,andthetop.IaskedKobe, competitiveashewas,whyhedidn’tplayagainsthisteammates,andhesaiditwas becausehewasn’tathree-pointshooter.Butintheyearthatfollowed,hewasdeterminedt fixthat:Duringtheoff-seasonKobeworkeddiligentlyonhisthree-pointshot.Itwasalway aboutthedetails.Andinthe2005–06season,Kobewentoffandaveragedmorethan35 pointsagame,leadingtheNBAinscoring.Hehadbecomeascoringmachine. Icouldgoonlistingrecordsandaccountsofhisscoringprowess,butthatwasreallya sidenotetoKobe’sevolutionasaplayer.Mystaffwouldmeetat8:30AMatourfacility

beforeapracticeorgametoprepareforthecomingday.Moreoftenthannot,bythetime pulledin,Kobewouldalreadybeparkedinthecarnexttomydesignatedspot,takinga nap.Hewouldbeinthegymwellbeforethat,maybeby6AMtogethispre-practice workoutdonebeforeanyoneelseshowedup.Thatwasthetrademarkofthefinal10years ofhiscareer.Kobeledbyexampleforhisteammates.Theycouldn’tkeepup—butthey werealwayschallengedbytheexampleheset. In2007,ImetwithKobetodiscusstheOlympicsinChina.Thatteamwaspackedwith starsandhadpracticedtogetherthatsummerinpreparationforthenextyear,whenthey wouldgoontowingold.MymessagetoKobewasthis:Ifyouaregoingtodotheextraoff seasonthings,youmustrecognizeyouonlyhaveacertainamountoftimeleftonyourlegs Practiceisnotabigconcernofmine,youknowthesystem.Iwillgiveyouasmuchtimeas youneedbetweengamestorecoverifyouwillkeepyourleadershipintactbybeing present.Hewoulddohisphysicaltherapywhiletheteamwentthroughtheirskillsand drillsandcomeontothecourtwhencompetitiveactioncommenced.Heencouragedhis teamandsometimesplayedthecoachingroleforthesecondunit.IwaswatchingKobego throughextremeroutinestogethimselfreadytoplaygamesandthoughttheremightbea windowoffiveorsixyearsleftinhiscareer.Againhechangedthelandscape,andhis determinationtoextendhisphysicalprimeblewoutthenorm.Heplayedalmost10more yearsofNBAhigh-intensitybasketball,whichstandsasameasureofhischaracter. ThephotographsinthisbookareatestamenttothemannerinwhichKobehasthought aboutthegame.Infact,thewayKobeapproachesbasketballhaspreparedhimforthe “next”phaseofhislife,onethatalreadylooksasinterestingandintenseashislongcareer withtheLakers. —PHILJACKSON,coach1999–2004,2005–2011

PROCESS

WHENITCAMETOBASKETBALL,IHADNO FEAR. WhatImeanbythatis:ifIwantedtoimplementsomethingnewintomygame,I’dseeit andtryincorporatingitimmediately.Iwasn’tscaredofmissing,lookingbad,orbeing embarrassed.That’sbecauseIalwayskepttheendresult,thelonggame,inmymind.I alwaysfocusedonthefactthatIhadtotrysomethingtogetit,andonceIgotit,I’dhave anothertoolinmyarsenal.Ifthepricewasalotofworkandafewmissedshots,IwasOK withthat.

Asakid,Iwouldworktirelesslyonaddingelementstomygame.IwouldseesomethingI likedinpersonoronfilm,gopracticeitimmediately,practiceitmorethenextday,and thengooutanduseit.BythetimeIreachedtheleague,Ihadashortlearningcurve.Icoul seesomething,downloadit,andhaveitdownpat. Fromthebeginning,Iwantedtobethebest. Ihadaconstantcraving,ayearning,toimproveandbethebest.Ineverneededany externalforcestomotivateme. Duringmyrookieyear,atfirst,somescoutingreportssaidIwasn’ttough.ThefirsttimeI wenttothebasketingames,I’dgethitandthedefensewouldthinktheyhadme.I’dcome backtheverynextplayandpickupanoffensivefouljusttosendthemamessage. Ididn’tneedthatextrapushtobegreat,though.Fromdayone,Iwantedtodominate.My mindsetwas:I’mgoingtofigureyouout.WhetheritwasAI,Tracy,Vince—or,ifIwere cominguptoday,LeBron,Russ,Steph—mygoalwastofigureyouout.Andtodothat,to figurethosepuzzlesout,Iwaswillingtodowaymorethananyoneelse. Thatwasthefunpartforme.

IDIDBIBLICALWORKOUTS. Istartedliftingweightsat17,whenIgottotheNBA.Nothingfancy,justbasic,time-tested liftingmethodsthatfocusedonstrengtheningonegroupofmusclesatatime.Overthemea ofmycareer,whetherwewereinseasonoritwassummer,Iwouldliftfor90minuteson Monday,Tuesday,Thursday,andFriday.WhenIsaylift,Imeanheavy,hard,can’t-feelyour-armstypeoflift.Afterthat,Iwouldgointothegymandshoot. Overtheyears,myroutinemighthavechangedsomebutmyphilosophyneverdid.If somethinghasworkedforothergreatsbeforeyou,andifsomethingisworkingforyou,wh changeitupandembracesomenewfad?Stickwithwhatworks,evenifit’sunpopular.

MYMIDNIGHTWORKOUTSHAVEBECOMEA THINGOFLEGEND. Theywerealwayspurposeful.Theywerebornfromamixofobsessionandreal-world responsibilities. IalwaysfeltlikeifIstartedmydayearly,Icouldtrainmoreeachday.IfIstartedat11,I’ getinafewhours,restforfourhours,andthengetbacktothegymaround5to7.ButifI startedat5AMandwentuntil7,Icouldgoagainfrom11until2and6until8.Bystartin earlier,Isetmyselfupforanextraworkouteachday.Overthecourseofasummer,that’s lotofextrahoursinthegym. Atthesametime,startingearlyhelpedmebalancebasketballandlife.Whenmykidswoke upinthemorningIwasthere,andtheywouldn’tevenknowIhadjustfinishedatthegym Atnight,I’dbeabletoputthemtobed,thengoworkoutagainduringmyowntime,not theirs. Iwasn’twillingtosacrificemygame,butIalsowasn’twillingtosacrificemyfamilytime. SoIdecidedtosacrificesleep,andthatwasthat.

FILMSTUDYISALLABOUTDETAIL. Fromayoungage—averyyoungage—IdevouredfilmandwatchedeverythingIcouldget myhandson.Itwasalwaysfuntome.Somepeople,afterall,enjoylookingatawatch; othersarehappierfiguringouthowthewatchworks. Itwasalwaysfuntowatch,study,andaskthemostimportantquestion:Why? Thebiggestelementthatchangedovertime,however,wasIwentfromwatchingwhatwas theretowatchingforwhatwasmissingandshouldhavebeenthere.Iwentfromwatching whathappenedtowhatcouldhaveandshouldhavehappened.Filmstudyeventually becameimaginingalternatives,counters,options,inadditiontothefinitedetailsofwhy someactionsworkandothersdon’twork.

IDIDN’TTRAINONLYMYBODY-ITRAINED MYMIND,TOO. TheonlywayIwasabletopickupdetailsonthecourt,tobeawareoftheminutiaeonthe hardwood,wasbytrainingmymindtodothatoffthecourtandfocusingoneverydetailin mydailylife.Byreading,bypayingattentioninclassandinpractice,byworking,I strengthenedmyfocus.Bydoingallofthat,Istrengthenedmyabilitytobepresentandno haveawanderingmind. Justasimportantasreadingwascultivatingrelationshipswiththegreatswho’dcome beforeme.Asevidenceofthis,lookatmyretirementceremonyandwhowasthere.That willtellyouhowImanagedtogetmyjerseysupthere.YouhadBillRussell,KareemAbdul Jabbar,MagicJohnson,JerryWest,JamesWorthy.Thoseguystaughtmethelessonsthat gavemeanedgeovermycompetition.That’swhyIthinkit’ssoimportanttohavethose mentors,thosenorthstars,whoyoulearnfromandlookupto.

MYMENTALPREPARATIONVARIEDBASED ONMYHEADSPACE. ItvariedbasedonwhereIthoughtmyheadneededtobeforthatspecificgame.IfIneeded togetkeyedup,forexample,Ilistenedtohardmusic.IfIneededtosoothemyself,Imight playthesamesoundtrackIlistenedtoonthebusinhighschooltoputmebackinthat place. It’sallaboutputtingmeintheplaceIneedtobeinforthatgame.Somegamesrequired moreintensity,soI...