10 motivational stories of Kobe Bryant's work ethic

Largely considered one of the finest in the professional basketball arena worldwide, Kobe Bryant's work ethic is also something that has been lauded time and again. There are numerous people from different walks of life that the Black Mamba has inspired both on and off the field, and the motivational stories of Kobe Bryant’s work ethic has reminded people to work harder every day of your life.Two decades earlier, Kobe Bryant was drafted into the NBA by the Hornets and then traded to the Lakers before the season began. He became the youngest ever player to play in an NBA game and the youngest player to start and NBA game and although it has been a roller coaster ride for Kobe as he has seen both ups and downs (ups mostly) throughout his career and has worked very hard to be at the top of his game.Here are a few motivational stories of Kobe Bryant’s work ethic from his colleagues, friends, and peers:

#1 For the 2012 Olympics, the Black Mamba decided to lose 16 pounds

kobe bryant at 2012 olympics — Kobe was undergoing an experimental knee therapy at the time

Although Bryant has never been unfit in his entire career, but considering his age, the then-ongoing experimental knee therapy and hunger to be a good player for a longer time, he decided to loose close to a score of pounds to keep up with his age and the younger talent on-court.

Kobe said, “With summer basketball leading directly into the season – and I'm expecting to play until next June – I have to take some load off my knees. I've got to shave some of this weight.”

#2 Carlos Boozer, one of his teammates from the 2008 Olympics was highly impressed by Kobe Bryants work ethics

Carlos said, “You know what it was for me? And me and him are good friends, but I hadn't really trained with him -- is how hard he works. We saw his dedication to the game. He would get in the gym, lift weights, he would go over to the gym, get shots up before practice, go through the whole practice, and that was his routine every day.

“He's not great by accident is my point. He puts the work in. And I think what I learned about Kobe is he's so hungry to be good, he puts the work in. I just think his hunger and his determination is what I was most impressed with.”

#3 USA coach Jim Boeheim on Kobe

After the same 2008 Olympic trip mentioned above, Jim Boeheim’s, USA’s Basketball team coach told the ESPN, ”He's just an unbelievable competitor and in practice goes 100 percent every day in practice and that brings everybody else up to that same level.

He was a huge part of us being ready in the Olympics to be able to win. Of course, when we needed a big shot, he made a big shot against Spain.” USA team went on to win the Gold at Olympics that year with a straight run of 8 games undefeated.

#4 John Celestand on being shocked by Kobe during 1999-2000 season

John wrote in his blog, “In a game against the Wizards, Kobe broke the wrist on his shooting hand. He was always the first person to practice every day, arriving at least an hour and a half early.To add insult to injury, I lived only 10 minutes from the practice facility — while Kobe was at least 35 minutes away.

“I am ashamed to say that I was excited the day after his injury because I knew that there was no way that No. 8 (as former Laker point guard Tyronn Lue called him) would be the first to practice, if he would even be there at all.

“As I walked through the training room, I became stricken with fear when I heard a ball bouncing. No, no, it couldn’t be! Yes it could. Kobe was already in a full sweat with a cast on his right arm and dribbling and shooting with his left.”

#5 Kevin Durant on Kobe Bryants work ethics

”We had the day off, but they said we could get some shots up if we wanted, so I decided to head over to the gym with Jeff Green. Kobe Bryant was the only guy on the bus to the gym, and that spoke volumes to me -- he's the best player in the game, yet he's always willing to come work on his game, so that kind of motivated me and Jeff.

He went by himself, he got a lot of shots up, and by the time he was done you could see he had gotten better over that hour. Like I said, it was a big inspiration to me and Jeff."

#6 Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade talking about an hilarious incident involving Bryant during Olympics 2008

“We're in Las Vegas and we all come down for team breakfast at the start of the whole training camp," Bosh said.

"And Kobe comes in with ice on his knees and with his trainers and stuff. He's got sweat drenched through his workout gear. And I'm like, 'It's 8 o'clock in the morning, man. Where in the hell is he coming from?'

Wade added, "Everybody else just woke up... We're all yawning, and he's already three hours and a full workout into his day."

#7 During school days, Kobe would make his teammates play one-on-one games upto 100 points

kobe high school — Kobe during his high-school days

For warm-ups Kobe would ask many of his teammates to play a one-on-one match with him. He would pick up all his teammates one after the other for pre-match warmups and would make them play one-on-one’s upto 100 points.

Even during his worse game, Bryant won 100-12.

He was the all-time lead scorer for his region – Southeastern Pennsylvania with 2883 points, surpassing the record set by Wilt Chamberlain, and was only the sixth player to enter the NBA draft directly after high school. Although he had offers from elite Universitites all around the United States, Bryant chose to follow into the footsteps of Kevin Garnett who was drafted into the first round of NBA in 1995 directly from high school

#8 Kobes strict diet doesnt allow him to have sugar or pizza

No sugar, no pizza, no supplements and only lean meat – one can only imagine how hard it must be to live on such a diet. But to stay at his best game and maintain his position as one of the best in the business.

Kobe said, “There aren't really any supplements that I'm taking from that perspective. What I've done really is just train really hard and watch my diet. I think that's the thing that catches guys most. They don't do self-assessing."

#9 Shaquille o\'Neal: He used to practice his moves without a ball

Shaq wrote in his book, “You'd walk in there and he'd be cutting and grunting and motioning like he was dribbling and shooting — except there was no ball. I thought it was weird, but I'm pretty sure it helped him."

“Kobe is a scientific dawg. He works out every day, practices every day. Most of the other stars are just dawgs, not scientific dawgs.Me, I’m a freak-of-nature dawg because of my size. LeBron could be a scientific dawg like Kobe, but he’s not, he’s got a lot going on like I did, so that’s preventing him from being one.,” he added.

#10 Michael Jordan, Kobes idol, said that Bryant was the only one to work as hard as he did

Talking about himself being compared to Kobe Bryant, Jordan said in his biography written by Roland Lazenby 'Michael Jordan: The Life', “Kobe had done the work. He [Jordan] was very aware and taking in great interest in Kobe Bryant's great work ethic. Michael Jordan's work ethic also is legendary.

He said Kobe had done that work to deserve the comparison. He says “Kobe's the only one to have done the work."

Now when you’re being applauded by the best-ever in the business, and he’s your idol too, then there is no going back and Kobe believes just that.

Edited by Staff Editor