- Tiger Woods impressed everyone when he won the 2008 US Open and later revealed he had a torn Achilles
- Gilbert Arenas said Lakers players were talking about how amazing it was when Kobe Bryant overheard them
- Kobe Bryant wasn’t impressed, and told his teammates as much, explaining why
Kobe Bryant was the ultimate competitor, and his spirit wasn’t limited to when he was on the basketball court. Bryant would often hold himself to the highest standards, wanting to be the greatest athlete of all time.
The perfect example of this is a story Gilbert Arenas once told about how Kobe Bryant reacted to Tiger Woods winning the U.S. Open Golf Championship despite having a torn Achilles and a knee injury in 2008.
“Kobe got his earphones on, they on a bus talking about Tiger Woods,” Arenas said. “So I guess Tiger Woods just won the Masters probably, with a torn meniscus and won.
“And the players in the back like, ‘Man did y’all see Tiger? Man, that’s the most mentally focused athlete in the world right now.’
“They say Kobe took his headphones off and said, ‘That’s mental focus? Winning something on a torn meniscus? How about coming out here and scoring 40 every night with five years hanging over your head? Now that’s mental focus.’ Put his music back on. Everybody was like, ‘Damn, he might be right.’”
Gilbert Arenas got some facts mixed up. In 2008, Tiger Woods finished 2nd at the Masters and won the U.S. Open after going through knee surgery. He revealed later that he also played through a torn Achilles tendon, making it incredibly impressive.
Kobe Bryant dealt with a different type of pressure during his career though, and that’s the point he was making. A direct comparison between team and individual sports is impossible, but Kobe Bryant did have a point.
Kobe Bryant Played Through His Ankle Injury To Help The Lakers Clinch A Playoff Spot In 2013
Kobe Bryant’s mental toughness is the stuff of legend in the NBA, there’s a reason he is the idol of today’s stars like Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker to name a few.
And while he wasn’t too big on Tiger Woods’ accomplishment, Kobe Bryant got his perspective on it in 2013 when he tore his Achilles tendon.
Kobe Bryant played through his ankle injury too, participating in six games, helping the team win five out of six, and allowing the Los Angeles Lakers to clinch a playoff spot. In the process, he ended up aggravating it and tearing his Achilles.
This happened in a game against the Golden State Warriors, with Kobe Bryant then hitting two free throws before leaving the court.
It was a tough time for the Mamba, Pau Gasol said it was the first time he saw Kobe Bryant cry. But he got through it and came back, something he has in common with the legendary Tiger Woods.
Tiger Woods Is A Big Los Angeles Lakers Fan
While this story may make it seem like Kobe Bryant didn’t think too highly of Tiger Woods, that’s not the case at all. Both athletes held a deep respect and regard for one another throughout their respective careers.
Tiger Woods is a Los Angeles Lakers fan, something he revealed most hilariously. When asked to pick between Michael Jordan and LeBron James in the GOAT debate, he simply chose the Lakers.
Kobe Bryant had a decorated NBA career, and to a few fans, he will always be the greatest ever. His mentality is what helped him achieve everything he did, and despite his take on that story, Tiger Woods would be among the first to understand it wasn’t a shot.
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