Happy Birthday Kobe.
Story time.
For almost a decade Kobe would come to Asia as part of his summer tour. We would hit up different cities and have huge events. There would be practices with games, prizes, sometimes a DJ, and we envisioned the televised events to be a little more light hearted. We couldn’t have been more wrong because we learned very early that the moment Kobe steps onto a basketball court, you have entered his place of worship. Practice is all business and the goal EVERYTIME is to improve, no time for games. Biz-nis!
This one time we held an open workout with very skilled players. It was in a large gym with maybe 2000 spectators. Nike had 3-4 coaches running the clinic and Kobe wasn’t even coaching, just observing. The drill that the kids were running was a feed into the post. A 180 pivot to face the basket, a pump fake, and then a fallaway jumper. If u a Kobe fan, u have seen him do this a 1000x. This young man takes his turn, does the move, misses the shot and begins to trot to the back of the line. Then came the Mamba moment, I remember it like yesterday. With no mic, Kobe hollers “STOP!” and the whole gym goes silent. He tells the kid to do it again and the young man repeats and misses the shot. Embarrassed. All eyes on the kid. Do it again Kobe says. Kid does the move and misses. Nervous. Again! The player spins, pump fakes, fallaway, splash, nothing but net. Everyone applauds and the kid smiles big. Kobe straight faced says, do it AGAIN off the right foot. And again off the left foot and then again off the right. The kid must’ve done the same move at least 5 times on each side with the crowd watching in anxiety and all the other players just standing. He’s definitely embarrassed and the crowd is embarrassed for him. But time stands still. The whole time Kobe is teaching this kid calmly, never yelling, and I can hear clearly so I translate for the crowd. He’s telling the kid about spin speed and the angle his foot should be at upon release. He’s teaching the kid the best angle to fallaway and to feel the opponent’s body pressure. He’s dissecting it down like science and we just stand there while this kid does it another 10 times. Again and again and again, it goes on for minutes. Whether the shot went in wasn’t the focus, the perfect movement was. Everyone is stunned at the detail and meticulousness that Kobe is exhibiting to teach his signature move. Kobe then says that if u can feel the side ur opponent is playing u on, and if u can make a perfect fake, and if u can spin at the right speed, and your fallaway angle is perfect, NO ONE can defend this shot. You can only make or miss it, but no one can stop you, so it’s all on YOU. He puts his arm around the young man and says good job.
Teaching. Coaching. Mentoring.
I have tears in my eyes as do half the crowd. Everyone erupts in respect and appreciation for a man who loves and has perfected his craft. Standing ovation.
MVP chants.
Kobe chants.
Mamba Mentality.
Mic drop
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