Hoops Habit
Fansided

Kobe Bryant: 5 Things We’ll Miss Most About The Mamba

By Carter Johnson

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after scoring 60 points against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. Bryant played his last game as a Laker and retired from basketball. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after scoring 60 points against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. Bryant played his last game as a Laker and retired from basketball. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Kobe Bryant
Oct 29, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (left) against Phoenix Suns forward Marcus Morris (15) during the home opener at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Lakers 119-99. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The Will

He would not be denied.

Once the Mamba set his mind to accomplishing something, there was nothing or no one that could stop him. It was the driving force behind his legendary scoring performances, with Wednesday night being the ultimate testament to this characteristic.

For a 37-year-old veteran of 20 NBA seasons that many times this season was seen with ice packs around every joint he had to put up the most points of any player in the NBA this season is due to nothing but the greatest willpower the league has ever seen.

It was this will that drove teams that started the likes of Smush Parker, Chris Mihm and Brian Cook to the playoffs and, in the 2006 postseason, a near first-round upset of the heavily favored Phoenix Suns.

That same will pushed a troubled 2012-13 Lakers team with Dwight Howard and Steve Nash into the playoffs and drove Bryant’s body to its limits as he played his hardest until it literally gave out.

His desire to win and play at the highest level was the stuff of legend and arguably second only to Jordan.

Next: The Toughness

Home/Los Angeles Lakers