I recently
read an article by Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant on The Players’ Tribune, a site with articles written by the athletes
for the fans. It’s designed to bring the fans closer to the athletes by giving
them a unique look into the daily
conversations and first-person stories written by the athletes.
This particular article struck me
because Bryant isn’t one to hold back on how he feels about something. He isn’t
a typical athlete. He’s old school; no nonsense, get to work, and do what
you’re supposed to do. He doesn’t worry about the outside noise, mainly because
he is always in the gym. The 36-year old, who is now recovering from a shoulder
injury, has been documented as one of the premiere athletes in the world since
he came into the NBA in 1996 because of his strong work ethic. Even at the age
of 36 he still has the mindset that when he steps onto the floor, he is the
best, and rightfully so. Bryant moved past Michael Jordan for third on the
all-time scoring list earlier this season; an accomplishment that has gone
somewhat unrecognized. Passing Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest of all time, is something that Bryant won't personally gloat about but it's something he should take pride in.
It’s easy to compare players from different eras and the
easiest to compare Bryant to is Jordan. Aside from the body type and
athleticism, Jordan and Bryant are comparable in their mental preparation for
the game of basketball. The cerebral approach that Kobe takes is not seen in
athletes today. Most athletes are worried about their social media followers
and whom they’re associated with. An excerpt from Bryant’s recent article tells
exactly that, “When I
play, I compete, and if you’re too busy acting cool for the fans or celebrities
courtside then I will demolish you in front of them”. Needless to say, Kobe doesn’t care about
what’s happening courtside.
In today’s age of social media that
is taking over the world, it’s imperative that athletes have a strong social
image. LeBron James is that athlete
today. The Cavaliers forward is the most recognizable athlete today and has a
following that stretches across the globe. Kobe and LeBron have been linked
since James came into the league in 2003, just after the height of the Lakers
championship run. Social media can ruin an athlete and the media will write
what they want to write about an athlete just based on something they heard.
Bryant doesn’t care. He doesn’t care what people think and only cares about one
thing, winning, something athletes today need to care more about.
“Either way, I refuse to change what I
am. A lion has to eat. Run with me or run from me.” Kobe Bryant. He gets it.
You can read the full article here
You can read the full article here
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