‘Don’t Smile’: Former Lakers Teammate Reveals How Kobe Bryant Wasn’t Interested to Celebrate Their 2009 Conference Finals Win
Follow Us
Very few teams can boast about possessing a ruthless winning mentality over a period of time. During the late 2000s, the Los Angeles Lakers under Kobe Bryant had that mental strength. The team was strong enough on the court; but their ability to remain rock-solid in the mind elevated them from the rest of the field. The combination of mental and physical toughness brought them numerous titles over the years.
Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in 2009 were a force of nature
The late Kobe Bryant, on his day, was one of the most daunting sportspeople to come up against. Yet, the Kobe Bryant off the court was one of the most simple, caring, inspiring figures. What made the Lakers legend special was his innate desire to succeed. The former All-star had what was called ‘elite mentality’, which was the confidence to win irrespective of external hindrances.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In the 2009-10 season, the Los Angeles Lakers built an empire of sorts. Under head coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers played an attacking style of basketball. Moreover, the demeanor with which the Lakers walked out on the court sent shivers down opposition spines. From 2008-2010, the men in yellow reached three consecutive NBA Finals, winning two titles. Kobe himself averaged almost 27 points in the duration but instilled a thought process in the team that cannot be taught by the common man.
Trending
7’4 Victor Wembanyama, Accused of Disrespecting Knicks Star, Gets MVP Shout-Out From Unbothered Jalen Brunson
April 19, 2024 02:58 PM EDT
After Nike, Sha’Carri Richardson Follows Lebron James Footsteps In Historic Partnership With Sprite
April 19, 2024 01:40 AM EDT
Possible Shohei Ohtani Ban From MLB Has Shaq Questioning $700 Million Contract
April 16, 2024 05:20 PM EDT
Is Dawn Staley Married? Details on South Carolina Coach’s Love Life and Special Bond With Lisa Boyer
March 16, 2024 06:41 PM EDT
Why Is Gabbie Marshall Not Invited to the 2024 WNBA Draft Despite Graduating From Iowa?
April 13, 2024 06:21 PM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
WATCH THIS STORY: Kyle Kuzma, Ben Simmons, Other Players Who Had a Nightmare Performance During the 2021 NBA Playoffs
Josh Powell on Kobe’s words after 2009-10 Western Conference win
After securing the Western Conference title, the Lakers received the trophy but did not seem overly pleased. That was the elite mentality of the side; they believed they hadn’t yet finished the job. Former player Josh Powell was part of the 2009-1o winning side and spoke out about what Kobe Bryant said after the Conference victory.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Appearing on a podcast, Powell said, “We didn’t come here to win a Western Conference Championship. We came to finish the job, so when the game was over with and before the media and stuff like that, he [Kobe] was like don’t smile. We’re gonna let everybody know that we mean business. And it just came out looking like that; it was crazy!”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The Lakers went on to win the Finals and engrave their names in the record books. This time around, they did have a big smile on their faces. It was a victory to remember, and one that Kobe Bryant and the squad cherished with all their hearts!