Kobe Bryant is one of the most polarising athletes of his generation. Loved by some for his high-flying and impossible baskets, loathed by others for his reputation as a ball-hog and almost psychotic will.
But everyone can agree that it’s his attitude that sets him apart from the rest of us. Bryant has no pre-game rituals or superstitions that he leans on, he just takes to the court each night knowing that he has prepared as well as one can.
As a maniacal competitor, Bryant can’t help but be frustrated by his current Achilles injury that robbed him and the Lakers of the chance to pursue another NBA ring – a ring that for Bryant would be his sixth, matching the achievement of the man he has long been compared to, Michael Jordan.
The Los Angeles Lakers maintains that his recovery is ahead of schedule and is confident of a return to the court by the time the new season rolls around. While in rehab, speculation will always arise that this injury might just be the one that sees his incredible 17-year career come to a shuddering halt, speculation that Bryant just loves to hear.
“I feel good, this is going to be a fun year,” said the shooting guard in the UAE for a three-day visit. “Because there are so many doubters and naysayers that it’s good, they’re fantastic, they’re needed, it’s a necessity, it’s fuel to the fire.
“I like to take any doubt and negativity and really let it push me to prove everyone wrong. I look forward to proving them wrong, this is going to be a fun year. It’s all motivation. The naysayers who say I’m on my way out have been saying that for like five years so one year they’ll be right. People who say that don’t understand what I’m about.”
Bryant is the leader of a team in flux. Last season was supposed to be the year he returned to the top of the NBA after last picking up a ring in 2010. Flanked by Dwight Howard, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol, the Lakers were expected to steamroll all before them. Instead, they limped to the seventh seed in the Western Conference before being swept by the San Antonio Spurs.
For the first time since 2005, and the second in 20 years, the Lakers might miss the postseason this year. In a stacked Western Conference, there isn’t room for a team that aren’t fully able to compete with the best. As Bryant said, a season without a ring is a failure for the Lakers, regardless of what team they have. And it is rings that Bryant is really obsessed about.
A champion in 2001 with Shaquille O’Neal and Phil Jackson, he’s notched five in total. To Bryant, rings are what define a player. So can a player consider himself one of the best with just one or no titles? “No. It’s everything,” said the 35-year-old. “That comes from the people that came bef-ore us. Bill Russell 11, Jordan six, Magic five, Bird three so they set the bar. Basketball is a very different sport to football or baseball.
“In those sports it’s really hard for one player to affect the outcome of the game. In basketball, there are five men on the court, it’s a really small community and one man can really impact that, I think that’s why individuals in basketball carry much more weight than in football or American football or whatever. You can absolutely hold people accountable by their rings.”
This was Bryant’s first visit to the country, where he trained 50 lucky children in Abu Dhabi on Thursday before coaching the Black Mambas to a 72-63 win over the Real Madrid legends at the American University of Dubai.
The sheer magnitude of Bryant’s popularity was palpable throughout his trip. On a visit to a Nike store in Dubai Mall, the shopping centre virtually came to a standstill and many continually rode the escalators, camera phone in hand, just so they could catch a distant glimpse of the Black Mamba.
A step onto the MPAC court outside the store drew chants of “Kobe, Kobe”. At AUD, the crowds turned up in droves just to see him patrol the sidelines while his entrance to the court was accompanied by Beatles-esque hysteria.
No secret formula
The superstar was brought here to help raise awareness for diabetes and to promote healthy living, something he actually does every time he steps onto a court, defying time with his still immense skills as he runs over to the wrong side of the 30s.
Bryant has continued to prove people wrong, scoring over 27 points per game last year while becoming an auxiliary point guard in Nash’s absence. For the 35-year-old, it’s fun to keep his game at the top level despite advancing age – although rehabilitation is far from fun. And he knows there is only one reason why he is able to sustain his considerably high level of performance.
“If you want a career in the NBA, there is no secret formula, it’s just practice. The more you do it the better you get, the more you watch and observe and study, the better you get. I say find something that you are passionate about, that’s the real thing.
"Once there’s passion it doesn’t feel like work. When I get up at 4:30 in the morning to train, that doesn’t feel like a burden for me, I enjoy doing it. If you look at the players that have done things, you’ll see ones that are physically gifted, have a strong work ethic and also have the mental aspect.
“But you’ll find more players that aren’t physically gifted but still made it which makes me think that the mental side of the game is much more important. If you approach the game the right way, and you know how to improve, then that can supersede the physical aspect.”
Bryant did admit that one day he will have to hang up his Nikes and walk away from a game he used to dominate. But he believes that day isn’t coming any time soon. Whether you are a fan of his or not, Bryant plans to stick around for a long time.
THE OTHER SIDE OF KOBE
Behold the Black Mamba “The Black Mamba is my alter ego. When I’m off the court, I’m far removed from that, laughing, having a good time. But when I step on the court, it’s a transformation where I become this other person. The Black Mamba is representative of that.”
The tough guys “Tracy McGrady was the player I had the most trouble guarding, thanks to his length and skillset. Allen Iverson had speed and size, Reggie Miller was tough as you had to run through so many screens.“
No time for rituals “I don’t succumb to having rituals. If I’m tired, I will sleep – if I want to listen to music, then I listen to music.”
* For breaking news, follow us on @Sport_360 or find us on Facebook.
