If you noticed Kobe Bryant keenly, he had two different personalities. The 5x NBA champion was a lot different on the court compared to his natural attitude off the court. However, the one that impressed many the most was his cold-blooded, silent killer-type character during the game, which he was also famously known for. The ‘Black Mamba’! Well, would you be surprised to know that this alter ego did not suddenly spring to life, and it was a process that took place for several years? 

Thanks to a famous multi-sport coach who built this character for several reasons. Apart from the fact that the game needed it, there was a dark and disturbing reason that triggered Bryant to create this alter ego. What is it? 

Kobe Bryant was “losing his edge”

When the Los Angeles Lakers needed Bryant the most, he would switch on the ‘Black Mamba’ mode, which instilled fear into his opponents. None of us knew about this alter ego until Bryant won his first three championships with the Lakers. Why was the alter ego not there back then? 

Canadian author and performance coach Todd Herman made an appearance in the podcast to speak about it. The 55-year-old multi-sport coach has previously trained football legend Cristiano Ronaldo, tennis icon Rafael Nadal and several other superstars. One of them was Bryant as well. But there was a unique reason behind it. 

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Bryant reportedly was “losing his edge” after winning 3 championships and an MVP, just 7 years into the league. After detailed training with the Lakers legend, Herman came to the conclusion that Bryant was having an “ego death”. 

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According to the words of Herman, “He[Byant]’s going through an ego death, he didn’t see it. He thought he was losing his edge. And so we needed to build an idea of who Kobe was.”

The performance coach further added, “The ‘Black Mamba’ never got revealed to the rest of the society until after he won the NBA championship four years later.”

Why did it have to be an alter ego? 

Herman shared, “A lot of times you have used an identity to get to where you are, but then the identity is no longer useful for you because it becomes a chain or an anchor that holds you back”. Bryant was in a similar phase and he was in need of a new identity. 

Looks like the Hall of Famer did the right thing by seeking help, that too at a crucial time. If you are wondering whether creating a new identity would be helpful at all, consider Bryant’s resume after 2004. The ‘Black Mamba’ went on to win 3 more MVPs, 2 Finals MVPs, and 2 more championships in less than 7 years. 

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It’s safe to say that Bryant’s career can be split into ‘Before the Black Mamba’ and ‘After the Black Mamba’. Anyhow, note that in both eras, Bryant was efficient. What’s your take on this alter ego? Share your take in the comments below.