Kobe Bryant, over his 20 year run with the Lakers in the NBA, became the hero of Los Angeles that we now know of today. Arriving on the national stage in the 1996 NBA draft, the Lakers made a trade for Kobe in the hopes that he would blossom into a star. However, he exceeded expectations and became one of the greatest players of all time.

One of the biggest reasons behind Kobe’s success was his ‘Mamba Mentality’, which included the key ingredient of hard work. Kobe’s countless hours of tireless work made him gain an edge over his opponents. Moreover, it left those around him in awe. One such person is UCLA Bruins Men’s Basketball coach, Mick Cronin.

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In a recent interview, coach Cronin made a bold statement by claiming Kobe as the ‘greatest worker’ ever.

Mick Cronin on Kobe Bryant

In an interview with ‘ESNEWS’ coach, Mick Cronin shared details on his experience of coaching Kobe and made a bold claim on the ‘Mamba’s work ethic. Cronin began by stating that he had the opportunity to coach a 17-year-old Kobe, where he recognized his talent. He then spoke about Kobe being the ‘hardest working player.’

“Kobe will always be known as the hardest working player. The greatest player ever is debatable. You know, we all hear the LeBron–Michael one,” said coach Cronin.

“But it’s undebatable who the greatest worker ever to play in the NBA, the most committed athlete who put the most time in to maximize his ability and become one of the best players ever, that was Kobe Bryant,” he explained.

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“Nobody will ever surpass him as the hardest working player ever,” he added.

Clearly, coach Cronin’s statements signify the body of work that Kobe put in during his career. This does not mean that his contemporaries like MJ and LeBron did not work hard. It only means that Kobe’s dedication to his craft allowed him to grow exponentially as a player.

From a poor rookie season in the NBA, Kobe willed his career forward and earned his first All-Star selection in 1998. He then helped the Lakers win 3 titles with Shaq. Thereafter, he became the Lakers’ frontman and helped win 2 more titles and an MVP award. He even ended his career on a high with a 60 point performance. Evidently, if there’s anything we can learn from Kobe, it is the value of hard work.