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EL SEGUNDO, CALIF. – APRIL 30, 2013. Kobe Bryant talks with reporters after his exit interview with the Lakers on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at the team’s training facility in El Segundo. (Photo by Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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EL SEGUNDO, CALIF. – APRIL 30, 2013. Kobe Bryant talks with reporters after his exit interview with the Lakers on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at the team’s training facility in El Segundo. (Photo by Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
There were a number of huge stars who dominated the NBA from the early 2000s to the latter half of the decade. However, one name stands out from all of them although he might not have the other’s accomplishments. It is Kobe Bryant. The Los Angeles Lakers legend was known for his iron will and a mindset like no other. There are countless stories which demonstrate just how dedicated Bryant was regarding his duties.
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Recently, NBA veteran Lou Williams shed light into a popular Kobe story. Following an embarrassing loss, the five time NBA champion set some ground rules which amused the rest of the team.
Kobe Bryant once gave his teammates a stern warning
There have been many elite trash talkers in the league over the years. While most of them resorted to trash talking their opponents, Kobe Bryant didn’t even spare his teammates. And one of them was Lou Williams who had a short stint with the Lakers.
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During The Mamba’s last NBA (2015-16) season, the Lakers had an embarrassing blowout loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. After the game, Bryant confronted his teammates in the locker room and Williams got to witness the ‘Mamba Mentality’ in full flow that day.
“We got blew out in Portland. [Kobe] came in the locker room like, ‘Every time down the court, I touch the ball. Y’all gonna learn what it’s like to play with Kobe Bean f*cking Bryant'”, said Williams during an appearance on All The Smoke podcast.
"We got blew out in Portland. [Kobe] came in the locker room like, 'Every time down the court, I touch the ball. Y'all gonna learn what it's like to play with Kobe Bean f*cking Bryant.'"
Lou Williams shared a HILARIOUS Mamba story 😅
(via @shobasketball)pic.twitter.com/9ZXAbYJKtu
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 25, 2023
From that point onwards, Bryant took matters into his own hands. Although the Lakers finished last in the Western Conference that season, Bryant tried his best individually.
A 37-year-old Kobe averaged 17.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists and also made it to his eighteenth All-Star game.
Bryant had taken some drastic measures after the Portland loss
The locker room confrontation wasn’t the only thing the Lakers team witnessed after their loss. Bryant went to the extent of taking away their shoes.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – JAN. 13, 2015. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant takes the court for a game against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. (Photo by Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The blowout loss urged Bryant to take a drastic step and he did not hesitate in doing that. As revealed by former Laker Nick Young, he took everyone’s Kobe sneakers.
“He tells everybody to take their shoes off, and I’m like, ‘What? What’s wrong with you man?’ And we took them off. He just started grabbing people’s shoes and threw them all in the trash,” revealed Young according to Fadeawayworld.
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This certainly left a huge mark on his underperforming teammates. One thing’s for sure, they got an apt example of the ‘Mamba Mentality’ from the legend himself.
Written by
Edited by
Bilal Handoo