![]() | |
Author | Kobe Bryant |
---|---|
Publisher | MCD (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) |
Publication date | October 23, 2018 |
Pages | 208 |
ISBN | 978-0-374-71915-9 |
The Mamba Mentality: How I Play is the autobiographical book of NBA player Kobe Bryant, where he provides personal insights on his life and basketball career. The book was published by Macmillian Publishers on October 28, 2018, with photography and an afterword by sports photographer Andrew D. Bernstein.
The book is broken up into several sections where Bryant describes the progression of his mentality and training throughout his career. Each section is heavily accompanied by visuals.
The foreword of the book is written by Bryant's former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Pau Gasol. He begins by telling the story of his 2008 trade from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Lakers, where Kobe inspired Gasol to be a part of the team's goal of winning the NBA Championship that year. He speaks to Kobe's many qualities including his attention to detail and persistence in telling the team that "to be a better player, you have to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more" [1] : 11 Gasol concludes by touching on Bryant's impact on him not only as a player but as a "brother" and expresses that the book accurately shows the reader Bryant's mentality. [1] : 11
The introduction of the book is written by Bryant's former Lakers coach Phil Jackson. It is titled "Be Prepared for an Adventure in High-Level Basketball" as Jackson introduces how the mixture of Bernstein's visuals and Bryant's insights can make the reader a better player. [1] : 13
Bryant begins by detailing the physical and mental preparation approach he has toward the sport of basketball. "When it Came to Basketball, I Had no Fear" is where he relays how he wanted to be the best player possible from a young age. Bryant speaks of his midnight workouts sometimes going from "11(pm)...get a few hours in, rest for a few hours, then get back to the gym around 5 to 7(am)", studying game film, and going through physical therapy to prepare his body and mind for games. [1] : 20 His physical therapy routine consists of ice baths, contrast therapy, stretching, and taping.
Bryant then begins to highlight the important staff members and players in his life that contributed positively to his process as an athlete. He first cites Judy Seto and Gary Vitti, [2] both tenure trainers with the LA Lakers organization, as making him feel "better, stronger, and more prepared" when he worked with them. Additionally, he gives recognition to various sports figures who made an impact on him as a player including Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Muhammad Ali, Bill Russel, Byron Scott, Phil Jackson etc. [1] : 39–47
On the topic of injuries, Bryant speaks to his personal obstacles with them and how he was forced to change his process and perspectives on the game. In December 2009, Bryant fractured his right index finger and it forced him to change his shooting form by making his middle finger the "point of release". [1] : 54 However, his "personal Mount Everest" came with his ruptured achilles on April 12, 2013 against the Golden State Warriors. [1] : 56–57 [3] After speaking with Vitti and surgeon Patrick Soon-Shiong, he underwent surgery and saw this as a new challenge for himself as it "was not going to let it beat" himself. [1] : 57
The section finishes with Bryant reflecting on his leadership with the National Basketball Team and the Lakers as well as defining the "mamba mentality". With Team USA, he described himself as "the alpha in the locker room" and younger teammates looked up to him for guidance [1] : 65 He describes his leadership style as "making them (people) uncomfortable" and daring "people to be their best selves" but tailored his approach to different teammates. [1] : 58 He finally defines the "mamba mentality" as being about the "journey and not the result", and the central purpose for the book is to continue to allow people to "find inspiration" in his lessons on basketball and his mindset. [1] : 72
In "craft", Bryant speaks to his technique decisions on the court and the fellow players that inspired his game. Throughout this section, Bryant provides detailed annotations and drawings on game photos to articulate his thought process in that moment. He acknowledges his teammates Shaquille O'Neal, Carson Butler, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher for being "special players" and helping him learn more about technique. [1] : 82 Bryant also recognizes his great competitors in Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, Ruben Patterson and many more and how he approached playing each differently based on their strengths and weaknesses. Bryant further details the skills of his competitors while mentioning the important areas of focus on the court including footwork, hand-eye coordination, "size up the defense", and contact as he "enjoyed hitting, and getting hit." [1] : 135
Bryant's insights end with going "deeper than hoops" with Bryant talking about his connection with Pau Gasol and highlighting all the highs and lows that come with the sport. He expresses his value in winning championships and how losses and wins do not change his game as he is "in the gym the same time after losing 50 games as I (he) is after winning a championship". [1] : 152–153 The final page is where Bryant reflects on the important experiences and skills the game of basketball has given him. He learned artistry and creativity, without it he "would not have an Emmy, I would not have an Oscar" and how he planned to take the game "everywhere" in his post-basketball career. [1] : 157
In the third section, various "facts and figures" regarding Bryant's life and career are displayed. [1] : 158–159
33643 Career Regular Season Points | 3rd Most All-Time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone |
81 Points | 2nd Most points ever score in an NBA Game |
37 Years Old | Bryant's age when he scored 60 points in his final NBA Game [4] |
20 Seasons | Devoted to the Lakers, the longest tenure by any guard in NBA History |
18 Years Old | When Bryant made his first start, became the youngest player to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, and the youngest player to score in a playoff game |
5 Championships | The three-peat of 2000, 2001, 2002 [5] and 2009-2010 |
2 | Jersey numbers (retired in Los Angeles: 8 & 24), [6] Finals MVP Awards, Scoring Titles (in consecutive years), and Olympic Gold Medals (in two attempts) |
"Chronology" lists important milestone dates in Bryant's career are shown. Dates range from the day he was selected in the NBA draft in June 1996 to the final game of his career in April 2016, highlighting important games, records, and awards in across his 20 year career. [1] : 160–161
The afterword is written by the book's photographer Andrew D. Bernstein, an American sports photographer who is in his 33rd season as the official photographer for the LA Lakers. Bernstein highlights momentous moments from Bryan't career and claims that Bryant was amongst the few NBA players who were "consistently dynamic and exciting to photograph, game after game, year after year". [1] : 163
As of July 2020, the book spent 27 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list reaching its peak at number 1 in the Sports and Fitness Category. [7] [8] RT book reviews
The books editor at USA Today, Jocelyn McClurg, described The Mamba Mentality: How I Play as "the next best thing to a courtside seat watching Bryant drive to the basket during his glory days with the L.A. Lakers." [9] At The Amazon Book Review, the author touched on how "Bryant has an incredibly detailed approach to preparation...not just a physical approach; it's also mental, [and it] can be applied outside of the game". [10]
Additionally, outlets like Kirkus Reviews, reflected upon the visual elements of the book calling it "is a visually beautiful presentation" thanks to the photos from long-time Lakers photographer Bernstein. [11] Booklist described the emphasized the book's uniqueness with "Bernstein's photography...it's wonderful" and "sets this book apart from the competition". [12]
Pau Gasol Sáez is a Spanish former professional basketball player. He was a six-time NBA All-Star and a four-time All-NBA team selection, twice on the second team and twice on the third team. Gasol won two NBA championships, both with the Los Angeles Lakers back-to-back in 2009 and 2010. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2002 with the Memphis Grizzlies, being the first non-American player to have won that award. He is regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time and is also considered as one of the greatest European players of all time. He is the older brother of former NBA player Marc Gasol.
Kobe Bean Bryant was an American professional basketball player. A shooting guard, he spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). One of the greatest players in the history of basketball, Bryant won five NBA championships and was an 18-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team, the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), and a two-time NBA Finals MVP. He ranks fourth in league all-time regular season and postseason scoring. Bryant was posthumously voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
Mitchell Kupchak is an American professional basketball executive and retired player. He is the former president of basketball operations and general manager of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). As a college player, Kupchak was an All-American at the University of North Carolina and a member of the gold medal-winning 1976 United States Olympic team. As a professional player, he won three NBA titles – one as a member of the Washington Bullets and two with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Andrew Bynum is an American former professional basketball player. He played the majority of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After they selected him in the first round of the 2005 NBA draft with the 10th overall pick, the 7-foot (2.1 m) center won two NBA championships with the team in 2009 and 2010. He was named an All-Star and selected to the All-NBA Team in 2012.
Ronny Turiaf is a French former professional basketball player who played 10 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Turiaf grew up in France and played college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the United States, where he led the West Coast Conference (WCC) in scoring in his senior year. After graduating from Gonzaga, he entered the 2005 NBA draft and was picked by the Los Angeles Lakers. He later played for the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves. Turiaf won an NBA championship with Miami in 2012. He was also a member of the French national team. He was inducted into the French Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.
The Los Angeles Lakers franchise has a long and storied history, predating the formation of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The Shaq–Kobe feud was the conflict between National Basketball Association (NBA) players Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, who played together for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996–2004.
Andrew D. Bernstein is an American sports photographer.
The 2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 60th season of the franchise, 59th in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 48th in Los Angeles. During the offseason, the Lakers re-signed point guard Derek Fisher. The Lakers celebrated their 60th anniversary, thus the Laker jerseys wore the 60th anniversary patches on the leftmost part. They finished the regular season with 57 wins, finishing with the most wins in the tightest conference race in NBA history. The Lakers clinched the top seed in the playoffs for the 29th time in franchise history. This 15-game turnaround from the prior season has been attributed to the progress of the team's bench players and the mid-season trade for Pau Gasol. The Lakers sold out all 41 home games for the season. After 12 seasons in the NBA, Kobe Bryant was named the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player for the first and only time in his career. The Lakers had the third best team offensive rating and the fifth best team defensive rating in the NBA.
This page details the all-time statistics, records, and other achievements pertaining to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team currently playing in the National Basketball Association.
The 2008–09 Los Angeles Lakers season was the franchise's 61st season, 60th in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 49th in Los Angeles. Coming off an appearance in the 2008 NBA Finals, the Lakers won their division for the 31st time and appeared in the NBA Finals for the 30th time. With 65 wins, they tied the 1986–87 team for the third most wins in franchise history, the most since 1999–2000, and improved on their 2007–08 record by eight wins. The Lakers sold out all 41 home games for the season, led the NBA in money earned from overall ticket sales, and had the 5th highest increase in gate receipts from the previous season. The Lakers had the third best team offensive rating in the NBA.
The 2009 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2008–09 season and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. A best-of-seven playoff series starting on June 4 and concluding on June 14, 2009, it was contested between the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers, and the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic. The Lakers were heavily favored to win the championship over the Magic.
The 2010 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2009–10 season and conclusion of the season's playoffs, held from June 3 to 17, 2010. A best-of-seven playoff series, it was contested between the Western Conference champion and defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics. It was their twelfth Finals meeting overall.
Kobe Doin' Work is a 2009 documentary film directed by Spike Lee. It focuses on then professional basketball player Kobe Bryant before, during, and immediately after one game of the 2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers season against the San Antonio Spurs. Bryant granted filmmaker Spike Lee and 30 cameras total access to his life for one day. Bryant agreed to wear a microphone throughout the day capturing in-game, bench, and locker room conversations. Lee's cameras were also given unprecedented access to the Laker locker room. Kobe: Doin' Work premiered on ESPN on May 16, 2009.
The 2009–10 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 62nd season of the franchise, 61st in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 50th in Los Angeles. During the offseason, the Lakers signed free agent and former defensive player of the year forward Ron Artest. Coming off from winning their fifteenth championship in the NBA Finals defeating the Orlando Magic in five games, the Lakers successfully defended their title. They spent the most money of any team on player salaries that season, totaling $112.7 million. The Lakers once again sold out all 41 home games for the season at Staples Center.
The 2010–11 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 63rd season of the franchise, 62nd in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 51st in Los Angeles. As both the three-time defending Western Conference Champions and the two-time defending NBA Champions, the Lakers attempted their third "three-peat" in franchise history (1952–54) and (2000–02), but were swept by the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semi-finals. The Lakers marked the end of an era for head coach Phil Jackson, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March 2011. He proceeded to announce his retirement as head coach after the playoffs. The Lakers once again sold out all 41 home games for the season at Staples Center.
The 2011–12 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 64th season of the franchise, its 63rd season in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and its 52nd season in Los Angeles. For the first time since 2005, Phil Jackson did not return as the Lakers coach and replaced by former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown. Following the 2011 NBA lockout each team only played 66 games instead of the usual 82. At midseason they traded longtime point guard Derek Fisher to the Houston Rockets for Jordan Hill and longtime forward Luke Walton to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Ramon Sessions.
The 2012–13 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 65th season of the franchise, its 64th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and its 53rd season in Los Angeles. The Lakers acquired All-Stars Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, giving them a starting lineup of five All-Stars consisting of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace, Nash, and Howard, who were expected to contend for the franchise's 17th NBA championship. Instead, the Lakers struggled to qualify for the playoffs after changing head coaches and implementing multiple offenses. However, a weak defense and multiple injuries were the team's biggest problems. They exited the playoffs in the first round for the first time since 2007. Additionally, this was the first season since 2006-07 without longtime point guard Derek Fisher, who had helped the team win its last five championships. Widely regarded as a failed superteam mainly due to injuries, the Lakers started out the season as a top 2 favorite to win the championship and the Lakers were projected to win 58 games. The Lakers were also the top favorite to win the Western Conference.
The 2016 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game that was played on February 14, 2016, during the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2015–16 season. It was the 65th edition of the NBA All-Star Game, and was played at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, home of the Toronto Raptors. The Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference, 196–173. Russell Westbrook was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. The Raptors were awarded the All-Star Game in an announcement on September 30, 2013. This was the first time that the NBA All-Star Game was held outside the United States. TSN and Sportsnet televised the game nationally in Canada, while TNT and TBS televised the game nationally in the United States. This was also the 18th and final All-Star Game in which Kobe Bryant participated, as a result of his retirement after the season.
Granity Studios is a multimedia original content company formed by former NBA player Kobe Bryant, focused on creating new ways to tell stories around sports. The company is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.