The name Bruce Lee is enough for people to follow his work. Even NBA legend Kobe Bryant, once in 2008, revealed his love for the martial arts icon and practiced the much-fabled Jeet Kune Do. But, what does a basketball player do by learning an age-old martial arts technique? One of Lee’s disciples explained the advantages of learning the martial arts technique that assisted Bryant in scoring points and becoming a better player.

Probably owing to this, Bryant won the Olympic gold medal with the USA and the Most Valuable Player award during that time. Safe to say, those lessons worked wonders for the Black Mamba.

Kobe Bryant shadows Bruce Lee’s methods for unparalleled glory

Jeet Kune Do Master, Jerry Poteet, described how Kobe used the martial arts technique to improve his movement in the game. He said, “Well, first of all, it creates sensitivity and there is close body contact. And the idea is that you have gestures and half-gestures to make your opponent move, so you can get around him and score. This mobility is the strongest point in Jeet Kune Do.”

Intercepting an opponent’s technique or intent is the core principle related to Lee’s Jeet Kune Do. According to Poteet, Kobe practiced this martial arts technique as he could dribble past his opponent and score baskets at ease. The shooting guard from the Los Angeles Lakers loved the flashing lights and produced some of the best basketball performances ever witnessed. 

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For ardent basketball lovers, Bryant’s astonishing off-the-ball movements became a treat for everyone. Coincidentally, his regular season MVP award supports his remarkable training methods.

How was Black Mamba inspired by Bruce Lee?

Kobe Bryant’s iconic ‘Kobe 5 Protro’ collection drew inspiration from Bruce Lee. The remarkable amount of respect he had for Lee was truly staggering. It’s often unheard of for a basketball player to train for Jeet Kune Do. Yet, these training methods helped Kobe to score invaluable points for his team. 

During the 2007-08 season, Bryant averaged 28.3 points and 1.8 steals and had an effective field goal percentage of 50.3%. It was one of the most productive seasons in his illustrious career. Slaloming past defenders at ease to the basket became a mainstay of his game. In addition, he had potent weapons in his arsenal, including a solid fadeaway and the iconic reverse layup- which showcased the interception of an opponent’s technique near the rim. 

WATCH THIS STORY- The Real Reason Why Bruce Lee Had his Armpit Sweat Glands Removed

To sum up, there are two takeaways from this. Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune remains a practical lifestyle martial arts technique for daily use. Similarly, Kobe Bryant trained beyond his limits to become one of the greatest basketball players of his generation. Do you think Jeet Kune boosted the Mamba skills?