Kobe Bean Bryant achieved great success throughout his basketball career, retiring in 2016 with 18 All-Star selections, 2 Scoring titles, an MVP, and 5 NBA Championships.
He also has 2 Olympic gold medals, going 36-0 during his time with Team USA.
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There were many things that made Kobe so iconic. Whether it was his work ethic, determination, or sheer willpower, his mentality and approach to the game (and life in general) is sticking with countless people today, even over a year after his death.
Of course, it’s his fighting spirit that helped him to achieve such great success.
And, in light of Team USA’s struggles this summer, it’s only natural that fans look to him and his philosophy as a reminder. Heck, Kobe himself even warned of what could happen with complacency, as this video from 2019 illustrates.
Whatever the case, it’s clear that fans still love and admire Kobe, if no for his game then for his many lessons that still hold true today:
If Kobe were alive today, and on that Team USA roster, one would think that things would be way different. Bryant was a guy who took every game seriously and demanded excellence from everyone — including himself.
Perhaps what the US needs now is a bit of a push in the right direction. It’s really a shame Kobe can’t give them that.
Instead, they’ll have to figure things out on their own. With the games officially on, and the roster set, there is little room for error at this point. Team USA has got to get their act together or risk losing the Gold for the first time since 2010.
It’s a tall task that has a lot of people on edge. But there is still hope they could get it done and make the country proud.
Their next game is against Iran on July 27th.
