This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "The Mamba Mentality" by Kobe Bryant. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading.
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Are you looking for motivational The Mamba Mentality quotes? What do these quotes say about hard work and persistence in sports?
These five The Mamba Mentality quotes are about getting in the right mindset and making sure you commit yourself to your goals. The quotes can help motivate you to set and meet your goals.
Check out these The Mamba Mentality quotes for inspiration about hard work and success.
The Mamba Mentality Quotes
These five The Mamba Mentality quotes are meant to inspire you to feel motivated and inspired to reach your goals. The Mamba Mentality is about hard work and discipline in both sports and in your life.
“The mindset isn’t about seeking a result—it’s more about the process of getting to that result. It’s about the journey and the approach. It’s a way of life. I do think that it’s important, in all endeavors, to have that mentality.”
This is one of the many The Mamba Mentality quotes about getting in the right mindset. Kobe was drafted to the league from high school and spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers. During that time, Kobe became a leader on his team and in the league, and he was admired for his unrelenting drive and commitment to becoming the best basketball player he could be. That, in essence, was the Mamba Mentality.
The Mamba Mentality came to transcend basketball—it applies to anyone who is striving to achieve greatness in her field. There is no single definition, but over time, it came to represent a mindset that encompasses hard work, obsessive preparedness, and dogged persistence on the journey to achieving a goal.
“You have to work hard in the dark to shine in the light.”
Kobe maintained his rigid routine regardless of the season or circumstances. While other players eased up on their workouts during the season, in order to avoid wearing themselves out, Kobe carried on. Although his schedule was tiring, it also helped him maintain endurance throughout the season and into the playoffs. Everything Kobe did was purposeful and strategic—starting with his preparation.
“One of the qualities that has made Kobe so successful, and always will, is his attention to detail. He always used to tell us: if you want to be a better player, you have to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more.”
While other players listened to music as part of their pre-game routines, Kobe adapted his preparation based on the mindset he would need for the game: If he felt a game would require him to be high-energy, he listened to music that pumped him up. If he felt a game would require him to be calm and focused, he listened to calm music. Sometimes, Kobe sat in total silence and took in the sights and sounds that surrounded him. This was a habit he had had since childhood, but when he started playing under Phil Jackson and learned that it was a form of meditation, he practiced it even more deliberately.
“From the beginning, I wanted to be the best. I had a constant craving, a yearning, to improve and be the best. I never needed any external forces to motivate me.”
This is another of The Mamba Mentality quotes that discusses Kobe’s dedication to success. From a young age, Kobe had an intrinsic motivation to do anything necessary to become a top-notch basketball player. His internal drive was always stronger than any external force. Kobe wanted to be great, and he knew that to be great, he had to be obsessive: He had to work harder than everyone else and make sacrifices others were unwilling to make.
“Good coaches tell you where the fish are, great coaches teach you how to find them.”
His coach, Phil Jackson. Jackson took a big-picture approach to coaching, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and encouraging players to harness their focus and energy to improve their game. Jackson’s calm focus complemented Kobe’s fire. Initially, their differences caused them to misunderstand each other and butt heads, but, over time, they got on the same page and balanced each other.
These The Mamba Mentality quotes can help any athlete succeed, on and off the court
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Here's what you'll find in our full The Mamba Mentality summary :
- How Kobe Bryant was able to play and dominate the best players
- Why Kobe took up tap dancing for a summer
- How reading the referee's handbook helped Kobe improve his game
