One would struggle to find an NBA player as motivated as Kobe Bryant was. Kobe entered the league as a high schooler, but his determination to be the best didn’t let his lack of college experience hold him down. And he went on to become one of the most heralded players in NBA history.
Bryant knew he had the talent to succeed in the NBA. But that is not always enough to be successful in the league. The NBA has seen several extremely talented players fizzle out because they weren’t motivated or focused enough to be successful in the league.
And this was a message he tried to share with some young players at a basketball camp in the early 2000s. Kobe was invited to speak to ABCD camp, where a young LeBron James was also present. He told them how they should focus on the game, rather than partying and living a lavish lifestyle.
When one young camper disrespectfully called Kobe ‘soft’ for his sage advice, Bryant clapped right back, telling him that he would show him that he wasn’t soft by completely destroying him in a game.
“It’s not soft cause on the court, I will wear your a** out.”
Kobe’s drive to succeed and be the best was a big part of why he was so successful. He wanted to win championships, and play the best basketball of his career while doing so. And because of this unwavering desire and passion for the game, he became one of the best to ever grace an NBA court.
And the scary part about Bryant’s career is that he was motivated at the same level throughout his career. Footage of an older Kobe Bryant in his 30s guarding a prime Dwyane Wade at full-court showed just how incredibly wired he was, willing to do whatever to win the game.
Through his career, Bryant’s accolades on the court knew no bounds. He was a 5-time NBA champion, 2-time Finals MVP, and a regular-season MVP. On top of that, he was a perennial All-Star, and one of only 3 players in history to lead the NBA in scoring and make an All-Defensive team.
