Kobe Bryant

So I had to really work on that aspect of it. That's hard. Yeah, it is.

So I had to really work on that aspect of it. That's hard. Yeah, it is.

Yeah, so I think about 2009, things started changing for me. I started... really making a conscious effort to better understand. And that doesn't mean you have compassion and empathy, so you go soft on them. It's more like you put yourself to the side and you put yourself in their shoes and understand what they're feeling.

Yeah, so I think about 2009, things started changing for me. I started... really making a conscious effort to better understand. And that doesn't mean you have compassion and empathy, so you go soft on them. It's more like you put yourself to the side and you put yourself in their shoes and understand what they're feeling.

And then you have to make certain decisions of, okay, what buttons do I need to push for this player to get them to the next level? So it's never, it's not sit around and it's all happy-go-lucky type of thing. Your leader, your job is to get the best out of them. even if they may not like it at that time.

And then you have to make certain decisions of, okay, what buttons do I need to push for this player to get them to the next level? So it's never, it's not sit around and it's all happy-go-lucky type of thing. Your leader, your job is to get the best out of them. even if they may not like it at that time.

Honestly, it sounds... May sound a little shallow, but I got to say beating the Celtics in game seven. That's what I'm most proud of. Why? Because it was the hardest. You know, you're playing with Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen. And, you know, there's myself, Powell, and players that other teams didn't want. And, you know, how do we figure out as a group what to do?

Honestly, it sounds... May sound a little shallow, but I got to say beating the Celtics in game seven. That's what I'm most proud of. Why? Because it was the hardest. You know, you're playing with Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen. And, you know, there's myself, Powell, and players that other teams didn't want. And, you know, how do we figure out as a group what to do?

And the reason why I love that series so much is that we went down three games to two against Boston. And now you got two games coming home. I remember sitting in the locker room and they beat the crap out of us to that game. So we're sitting in the locker room and it's really, really quiet. I'm sitting there looking around and we just lost the Celtics in 08. So this is like revenge. Right.

And the reason why I love that series so much is that we went down three games to two against Boston. And now you got two games coming home. I remember sitting in the locker room and they beat the crap out of us to that game. So we're sitting in the locker room and it's really, really quiet. I'm sitting there looking around and we just lost the Celtics in 08. So this is like revenge. Right.

And they're kicking our butt again. Right. So I sit around. I just started laughing. I started laughing and then I remember Derrick Fisher looked at me like, and Lamar looked at me and goes, what is funny? I said, dude, they beat the crap out of us. They just beat the crap out. I said, I'm missing the part where that's funny.

And they're kicking our butt again. Right. So I sit around. I just started laughing. I started laughing and then I remember Derrick Fisher looked at me like, and Lamar looked at me and goes, what is funny? I said, dude, they beat the crap out of us. They just beat the crap out. I said, I'm missing the part where that's funny.

I said, man, listen, if you start this season and they say, you know, all you have to do is win two games at home and you're NBA champ, would you take that? Yeah. Right. That's all we got to do. Yeah. Go home, win two. We're NBA champions. All we got to do is win two games in a row. That's it. We'll take care of the first game. And I promise you, they're not winning game seven on our home floor.

I said, man, listen, if you start this season and they say, you know, all you have to do is win two games at home and you're NBA champ, would you take that? Yeah. Right. That's all we got to do. Yeah. Go home, win two. We're NBA champions. All we got to do is win two games in a row. That's it. We'll take care of the first game. And I promise you, they're not winning game seven on our home floor.

It's not happening. So we all just laughed about it. And then we went out and we figured it out. But that game seven was we're down 15 points in the fourth quarter. Right. And that's when you have to collectively look at each other and say, you know, the spirit of your team must be good. because at that moment is when teams fracture.

It's not happening. So we all just laughed about it. And then we went out and we figured it out. But that game seven was we're down 15 points in the fourth quarter. Right. And that's when you have to collectively look at each other and say, you know, the spirit of your team must be good. because at that moment is when teams fracture.

If the energy amongst each other isn't there, that trust isn't there, you're done. And we were able to collectively dig deep together and say, all right, we're gonna figure this thing out. And I wasn't playing well and I wasn't shooting the ball well at all. And so my teammates picked you up and, They delivered. Yes.

If the energy amongst each other isn't there, that trust isn't there, you're done. And we were able to collectively dig deep together and say, all right, we're gonna figure this thing out. And I wasn't playing well and I wasn't shooting the ball well at all. And so my teammates picked you up and, They delivered. Yes.

I think it's the fear of starting anew. And that was certainly present for me as well. Really? Yeah. Like an identity, you mean? Well, it's starting from scratch, right? Because when you play for 20 years, I played for 20 years, you reach a certain level. You're like, okay, wait a minute. I have to start again at the base of a mountain. and try to climb the top of this mountain.

I think it's the fear of starting anew. And that was certainly present for me as well. Really? Yeah. Like an identity, you mean? Well, it's starting from scratch, right? Because when you play for 20 years, I played for 20 years, you reach a certain level. You're like, okay, wait a minute. I have to start again at the base of a mountain. and try to climb the top of this mountain.