Kobe Bean Bryant achieved great success over his NBA career, retiring an 18x All-Star, 2x Scoring Champion, and 15x All-NBA Player.
Of course, he also won on the global stage as well, earning two Olympic Gold Medals in his lifetime.
And while Bryant is no longer alive today, his impact and legacy is still being felt, especially for the current Team USA roster.
In a chat with the media, Kevin Durant explained how Bryant’s wisdom and mentality are pushing the team to new heights.
“Kobe Bryant is the guy that all of us looked up to and watched as kids. Even when he was alive and playing, his DNA was embedded in us. From afar, [he] thought us what the game is about, what work ethic is about,” Durant said of Bryant.
Now that he’s not with us no more, we all want to honor his teachings by going out there and playing with that passion, with that energy every single play.”
"Even when he was alive and playing, his DNA was embedded in us"@KDTrey5 talks about honoring the great @kobebryant and his legacy of @usabasketball for @Olympics.#TokyoOlympics | #USABasketball | #3ptcnvrsn | #KobeBryant | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/uK64ezGDTk
— The 3 Point Conversion (@3ptCnvrsn) July 9, 2021
Kobe was a guy who believed in giving your all in everything that you do. Every time he played, no matter what the situation, he went out there and gave 100%.
For Team USA, the amount of talent on the roster might make it easy for them to get complacent or lazy, but it seems they’re determined to keep their focus and passion — just like Kobe would have.
Even now, over a year after his death, Kobe is finding ways to make an influence.
