Kobe Bryant’s story

 

By Mr. Hui Kim Fai

 

Hi kids, this is Mr.Hui, one of your P.E. teachers. Let me ask you a question. Who is your favourite NBA player? Kevin Durant? Stephen Curry? LeBron James? I believe most of you know these famous players, right? Allow me to introduce a unique player who has inspired me so much in my whole life. His name is Kobe Bryant.

 

Kobe Bryant is a 6-foot-6 player. As a matter of fact, he is not very tall or physically a musclehead. So what makes Bryant so special? Two stories of Bryant will tell you everything, including what the “Black Mamba Mentality” is about.

 

In 2013, Bryant was playing a game against the Warriors. All of sudden, he pulled and tore his Achilles tendon. This is a fatal injury to any kind of athlete. It was unbelievable that he could even finish his free throw enduring such tremendous pain. Even a fatal injury couldn’t cripple him.

 

Later in 2015, 37-year-old Bryant dislocated his finger in a game. He slipped on the wet floor and his finger just jammed into the floor and it just popped right out. Usually, with that kind of injury, athletes would need to call a timeout and stop playing the game. However, instead of checking out of the game, Bryant popped his dislocated finger back into place, and then went back to playing like nothing had ever happened.

 

Some may see Bryant as “insane” from these two stories, but what I see in him is determination and the “Black Mamba Mentality”.

 

If you look at the history of the NBA, you may find that he is not the “G.O.A.T” (Greatest Of All Time). However, the influence he has brought to the NBA or even the world is always greater than how many points he scored on the court.

 

Bryant is not only a basketball player, but also a mentor, a pioneer and an influencer. Kids, I hope you will learn more about the “Black Mamba Mentality” as you grow. I believe you will benefit one thing or two from it. And I believe with the “Black Mamba Mentality”, you can overcome most of the difficulties you face in your life. Maybe one day, some of you will become the next “Black Mamba”.