- Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles in a game against the Golden State Warriors in the 2012-13 season at the age of 34
- Despite many suggesting the injury would end his career, Kobe Bryant was motivated to come back and play in the NBA
- He shared an inspirational post on Facebook the night before his surgery, with his words encapsulating the legendary Mamba Mentality
Kobe Bryant might not be the objective GOAT or even a Top 5 player for many NBA fans, but his mentality was second to none in NBA history. In 2013, after he tore his Achilles in a game against Golden State and it looked like the injury might end his career, Bryant shared these incredibly motivational words in a Facebook post.
“This is such BS! All the training and sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I’ve done millions of times! The frustration is unbearable,” Bryant wrote. “The anger is rage. Why the hell did this happen ?!? Makes no damn sense. Now I’m supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that??
“I have NO CLUE. Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was. Maybe this is how my bookends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me…Then again maybe not! It’s 3:30 am, my foot feels like dead weight, my head is spinning from the pain meds and I’m wide awake.
“Forgive my Venting but what’s the purpose of social media if I won’t bring it to you Real No Image?? Feels good to vent, let it out. To feel as if THIS is the WORST thing EVER! Because After ALL the venting, a real perspective sets in. There are far greater issues/challenges in the world than a torn Achilles.
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining, and get to work with the same belief, same drive, and same conviction as ever. One day, the beginning of a new career journey will commence. Today is NOT that day. ‘If you see me in a fight with a bear, pray for the bear.’ I’ve always loved that quote. That’s “mamba mentality.” We don’t quit, we don’t cower, we don’t run. We endure and conquer.”
In an age where social media was already beginning to take over and players’ interactions were more PR-driven than ever, this was a refreshingly candid post from Bryant. He accepted his situation and did everything he could to come back from it. While Kobe Bryant was never the same after his Achilles issue, he did come back and play for three more seasons in the NBA.
Kobe Bryant Overcame His Achilles Injury And Played In 107 More NBA Games
By 2013, Kobe Bryant was a 5-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, and MVP. He had proved everything he had to in the league, but his tenacity to end his career on his terms led to him coming back to play despite his injuries. He played just 41 games combined in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, but the fact that he came back at all as a 35-year-old after an injury like that is truly commendable.
Kobe Bryant played 66 games as a 37-year-old in his final NBA season, and in the 107 games after his injury, still managed to average 18.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game for the Lakers. He even scored a whopping 60 points in his final NBA game. His toughness, mentality, and determination are what makes Kobe Bryant a legend and are the reason he will be remembered by basketball fans forever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRdZUdR8bqM
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