Why Kobe Bryant’s Second Act Was On A Trajectory To Become As Successful And Impactful As His Basketball Career (2024)

FAQs

How did Kobe Bryant become a successful basketball player? ›

His maniacal work ethic and intense attention to detail is legendary in NBA circles - it seems like almost everyone in the NBA has a “Kobe Story”. He was known to show up to workouts 2-3 hours early and drenched in sweat by the time anyone else got there.

From childhood, Kobe took what people said about him and used that energy to motivate him. He knew that the more successful you are, the more hate you are going to get—and you can use this negative energy to inspire and motivate you to be better through reconceptualizing what people say about you.

By staying open-minded and having respect for others, Kobe was able to lead his teammates to their greatest successes. He also understood the importance of self-reflection and taking time to evaluate how he could continue to improve as a leader.

Bryant was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame along with contemporaries Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan on May 15, 2021, though the night was bittersweet.

Bryant made many charitable donations, including in support of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Kobe continued to be an all-star, even off the court, until his tragic death on January 26, 2020.

He put himself through 4 hours of intense workouts on game days! He completely cut out sugar and had one of the strictest diets in the NBA. And he continued to force teammates to stay after practice to face him one-on-one. All of this work led Kobe to become one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great at whatever they want to do. – Kobe Bryant.

My place to study is from the best. For Kobe, success was a choice. Success was a matter of consequences: Of making hard decisions, and then acting on those decisions.

Showing Up Beyond the Home Court

Kobe influenced children beyond his own, including writing a series of children's books like “Legacy and the Queen and “Legacy and the Double.” Kobe said he wrote the books to inspire children (including his own!) to work hard and believe in themselves.

Kobe Bryant always wanted to get better. He wanted to be the best he could in every aspect of his life that he could be. After his playing days he would take college courses on various different subjects. You see, Bryant saw the value in a college education; it was a part of his life he could improve.

Why is Kobe the greatest ever? ›

One of the reasons Bryant was such a beloved and admired player is because he emulated the player widely regarded as the best player in NBA history: Michael Jordan. The similarities were impossible to miss — both were thin, athletic 6-foot-6 shooting guards. Bryant studied Jordan and his footwork.

Bryant volunteers his time to Make-A-Wish Foundation, NBA Cares and The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and serves as an ambassador for After-School All-Stars. In 2007, he launched the Kobe Basketball Academy, at which he mentors and trains athletes ages 8-18.

The all-time leading scorer in Lakers history, Bryant was the first guard in NBA history to play 20 seasons. His 18 All-Star designations are the third most all time, and Bryant has the second most consecutive appearances as a starter.

Bryant's legacy lives on with the Los Angeles Lakers, with the NBA and WNBA (both leagues have awards in honor of him), with Nike and with the Mamba and Mambacita Foundation.

1. Shaquille O'Neal. Although Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant had one of the most heated teammate feuds in NBA history, there is no doubt that O'Neal is the greatest player that Bryant has ever played with based on his contributions to the Lakers.

Bryant, whose father also played professional basketball, entered the NBA draft straight from high school. He was picked by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 but was soon traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. When the 1996–97 season opened, he was the second youngest NBA player in history.

The NFL Hall of Famer connected the dots between Bryant being someone who idolized Michael Jordan, then emulated him and had the gall to believe he could surpass the legend almost universally recognized as the greatest NBA player ever. “When I say Mamba forever, I'm a big Michael Jordan fan.

On Nov. 3, 1996, Kobe Bryant made his NBA debut with the Los Angeles Lakers, beginning what would become an illustrious 20-year career. At 18 years, 72 days old, he became the youngest player to ever appear in an NBA game. Though that mark was later broken by Jermaine O'Neal (18 years, 53 days) on Dec.