The NBA, in over 75 years of its existence, has built a platform for launching talented athletes to the next level. In a league dominated by superstars, it set the table for aspiring athletes, driven by their passion on the court. The NBA has also served as a symbol of the brutal grind required to make it at the highest level, with veterans like LeBron James, and Stephen Curry leading the charge.

And while it witnessed many an athlete fall to the way-side, it also saw transcendent stars like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, elevate the game to the next level. What separated them from the rest? Just their sheer will and hunger for greatness!

It was the Mamba’s work ethic, which saw him become one of the greatest players of all time. And while Bryant’s career accolades and championships with the Purple and Gold were crucial, his Mamba Mentality was arguably the core building block of his legacy.

Read More – When and Why Did Kobe Bryant win an Oscar?

Curry reminiscing about the journey

Stephen Curry on a recent relaunch of ‘Underrated’ spoke about a Kobe Bryant quote, which pushed athletes to give their all, work on their games, and exceed limits to grow as players over the years. Bryant’s words, “The journey is the dream”, encouraged players to smile through the pain as they would reap the benefits one day.

Also Read – ‘His Realness’: Lakers Assistant Coach Reveals Why Kobe Bryant Was Misinterpreted as an A**hole

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On the podcast, Steph Curry commented on what the quote meant to him and said, “That’s one of Kobe’s lines… He said it very eloquently, in terms of that process, the journey, the people you cross paths with, you compete against, the coaches that instill in you basketball lessons, life lessons all that type of stuff.”

Curry also elaborated on the fact that it never came easy for either player, as they battled through the down years and injuries in building their legacy.

He added, “Don’t forget to enjoy that part. Everybody wants the trophies, everybody wants the MVP, everybody wants the All-Stars, All accolades, and that’s great, that’s what you should strive for, but that doesn’t happen by accident – the process manifests that.”

Steph Curry following in Kobe’s footsteps

It was the Mamba Mentality, which pushed Kobe to hit two free throws against Golden State, after tearing his Achilles. It was also this mindset that prompted him to make a comeback the following season. That Mentality saw Kobe play through pain and injury, as he trusted the same process and the same hustle which saw him win five titles with the Lakers.

In his last game with L.A., Bryant had said, “I’m more proud of the fact that, not about the championships, but the down years. We didn’t run, we played through all that stuff, we got our championships, and we did it the right way!”

It was this attitude that showcased him as the living embodiment of the Mamba Mentality and has placed him in the pantheon of NBA greats for eternity.

Watch this story – Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan Most Identical Plays.

Steph Curry, on the other hand, has had a career that revolutionized the modern game like no other. His 3-pt revolution will also see him go down as the greatest shooter of all time, as he looks to break Ray Allen’s record next season.

Curry will also look to add to his resume, as he chases Ring number 4 with a healthy Golden State in the next season following another MVP-like performance this season.