He’s arguably one of the greatest closers of this era, perhaps of any era on the NBA hardwood. It’s safe to say his accomplishments throughout his illustrious 16-year career with one franchise, the Los Angeles Lakers, will make him the greatest baller to wear a Lakers jersey. But why?
Professional athletes are in a different class of society much like kings, queens, actors, and politicians, but why? Why can’t it be you, your neighbor or me? Those who sit on the sidelines and pay to see athletes and the like say it’s luck or being in the right place at the right time. While more optimistic people or fans say fate, destiny or God’s will. All are formidable responses but if you ask athletes themselves they’ll tell you, “hard work and mind over matter.”
A Look Inside Kobe Bryant The Human
He works at his craft as if he had not God-given talent.
He treats his craft as a job and works at it more than a Wall Street stockbroker.
He studies past and current legends of the game and anticipates moves like a chess master.
His greatness is measured by his 95% will to win and not by his 5% of athletic giftedness.
His vision sees beyond the measurable obstacles 99% of society latches onto.
His greatness stems from a desire to be something other athletes are merely proud to just have made it.
His mental intelligence is the key to his success, not his physical attributes.
If you study Kobe Bryant’s moves, they’re precise. He doesn’t waste time on extra-curricular things that cloud his mental capacity. Many NBA pundits title him the “closer” because he relishes his time to put into play what he does day in and day out. Fear is merely a term spoken by mortals like you and me, it doesn’t exist in his mind. In essence, he is what his mind thinks, unstoppable.
What Can Mortals Learn From Kobe Bryant?
The physical attribute of height cannot be taught but how to control the mind can. Ever think God gave talent to a select few to see how many of us would try to aspire to become like them? The chances of becoming a professional athlete are microscopic but the chance to help others is astronomical. To become a champion of a city is one thing. To become a champion to someone in need is priceless. Kobe’s greatness teaches us that we all have the capacity to be great, except that only a small fraction of us actually believe that to be true.
Where has work ethic, determination, perseverance, and vision gone for the generations to follow? It’s as if technology has removed hard work all together. If today’s youth is shown how much work Kobe actually does, will they understand that not everything is accomplished by the click of a mouse?
Kobe Bryant isn’t a role model, yeah…yeah..oh but he is. Whether parents like to admit it, kids look up to Kobe Bryant as a hero. Sure he’s had off the court indiscretions but who hasn’t? His success is measured by the number championships he’s won, not by the number of women he’s bedded. Learn to love the person and not the action for what he can teach you and I is far more transcendent than a college textbook.
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