Kobe Bryant Quotes

Kobe Bean Bryant was an American professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Bryant entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships, 18-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, and 12-time member of the All-Defensive team. He led the NBA in scoring during two seasons, ranks fourth on the league’s all-time regular season scoring and all-time postseason scoring lists. He is the only player in NBA history to have at least 30,000 points, 7,000 assists, and 6,000 rebounds.

Bryant was an outstanding athlete, considered one of the best dunkers in the history of the game. He was also known for his work ethic and competitive nature, which helped him earn the nickname “The Black Mamba”.

Table of Contents:

1. Early life

2. High school career

3. Professional career

4. Personal life

5. Death

6. Legacy

7. Top Kobe Bryant Quotes

Early life

Kobe Bean Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents are former professional basketball player Joe Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant.

Kobe was raised in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. He attended Lower Merion High School, where he was a standout player for the school’s basketball team.

High school career

As a freshman, Bryant was selected to the varsity team. He became the first freshman in decades to start for the varsity team.

Bryant quickly emerged as one of the top players in the country. He was named the 1996 Gatorade National Player of the Year, becoming the first freshman to receive the honor.

Bryant also led his team to the state championship game, where they lost to the eventual national champions, the University of Kentucky.

Professional career

Bryant was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant became the youngest player in NBA history to start a game, at 18 years and 158 days. He went on to score 28 points in his NBA debut.

Bryant quickly became one of the Lakers’ best players. He was named to the All-Rookie team and helped lead the Lakers to the playoffs.

In his second season, Bryant was selected to the All-Star team. He went on to average 22.5 points per game, which was the second highest scoring average by a teenage player in NBA history.

Bryant continued to improve and develop into one of the NBA’s top players. He won his first championship in 2000, and was named the Finals MVP.

Bryant won a second championship in 2001, and was once again named the Finals MVP. He also earned the regular season MVP award that year.

Bryant won a third championship in 2002, and was named the Finals MVP for the third time. He also became the first player in NBA history to be named All-Star MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and Finals MVP in the same season.

The Lakers won another championship in 2009, with Bryant being named the Finals MVP for the fourth time.

Bryant won his fifth and final championship in 2010, and was once again named the Finals MVP. He is the only player in NBA history to win five championships and be named Finals MVP on each occasion.

Personal life

Bryant married Vanessa Laine in 2001. The couple have three daughters: Natalia, Gianna, and Bianka.

In 2003, Bryant was accused of sexual assault by a 19-year-old hotel employee in Colorado. The charges were later dropped, but Bryant did issue a public apology.

Death

On January 26, 2020, Bryant and his daughter Gianna were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.

Legacy

Bryant is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history. He is the only player to have won five championships and been named Finals MVP on each occasion.

Bryant is also the all-time leading scorer in Lakers history, and is fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

Here are the Top Kobe Bryant Quotes of All Time

Kobe Bryant Quotes on Success

“Once you know what failure feels like, determination chases success.” – Kobe Bryant

“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.” – Kobe Bryant

“Sports is such a great teacher. I think of everything they’ve taught me—camaraderie, humility, how to resolve differences.” – Kobe Bryant

“It’s not about the number of hours you practice, it’s about the number of hours your mind is present during the practice.” – Kobe Bryant

“Haters are a good problem to have. Nobody hates the good ones. They hate the great ones.” – Kobe Bryant

“Losers visualize the penalties of failure. Winners visualize the rewards of success.” – Kobe Bryant

“When we are saying this cannot be accomplished, this cannot be done, then we are short-changing ourselves. My brain, it cannot process failure. It will not process failure. Because if I have to sit there and face myself and tell myself ‘you are a failure,’ I think that is almost worse than dying.” – Kobe Bryant

“This is the moment I accept the most challenging times will always be behind me and in front of me.” – Kobe Bryant

“Use your success, wealth, and influence to put them in the best position to realize their own dreams and find their true purpose.” – Kobe Bryant

“I realized that intimidation didn’t really exist if you’re in the right frame of mind.” – Kobe Bryant

“I’m reflective only in the sense that I learn to move forward. I reflect with a purpose.” – Kobe Bryant

“The beauty in being blessed with talent is rising above doubters to create a beautiful moment.” – Kobe Bryant

“I create my own path. It was straight and narrow. I looked at it this way—you were either in my way or out of it.” – Kobe Bryant

“I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you.” – Kobe Bryant

“If you don’t believe in yourself, no one will do it for you.” – Kobe Bryant

“Pain doesn’t tell you when you ought to stop. Pain is the little voice in your head that tries to hold you back because it knows if you continue you will change.” – Kobe Bryant

“The topic of leadership is a touchy one. A lot of leaders fail because they don’t have the bravery to touch that nerve or strike that chord. Throughout my years, I haven’t had that fear.” – Kobe Bryant

“Trust me, setting things up right from the beginning will avoid a ton of tears and heartache.” – Kobe Bryant

“The moment you give up is the moment you let someone else win.” – Kobe Bryant

“Dedication makes dreams come true.” – Kobe Bryant

“We can always kind of be average and do what’s normal. I’m not in this to do what’s normal.” – Kobe Bryant

“I’m extremely willful to win, and I respond to challenges. It’s not a challenge to me to win the scoring title, because I know I can.” – Kobe Bryant

“I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I’m like, ‘My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don’t have it. I just want to chill.’ We all have self-doubt. You don’t deny it, but you also don’t capitulate to it. You embrace it.” – Kobe Bryant

“I don’t want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be Kobe Bryant.” – Kobe Bryant

“Everything negative—pressure, challenges—is all an opportunity for me to rise.” – Kobe Bryant

“We don’t quit, we don’t cower, we don’t run. We endure and conquer.” – Kobe Bryant

“Winning takes precedence over all. There’s no gray area. No ‘almost.’”

“The important thing is that your teammates have to know you’re pulling for them and you really want them to be successful.” – Kobe Bryant

“If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail.” – Kobe Bryant

“I’ll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it’s sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot.” – Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant Quotes on Passion

“The biggest dreams aren’t fueled by belief. They’re fueled by doubt.” – Kobe Bryant

“I never needed any external forces to motivate me.” – Kobe Bryant

“When you make a choice and say, ‘Come hell or high water, I am going to be this,’ then you should not be surprised when you are that. It should not be something that is intoxicating or out of character because you have seen this moment for so long that—when that moment comes, of course, it is here because it has been here the whole time because it has been in your mind the whole time.” – Kobe Bryant

“If you want to be great at something, there’s a choice you have to make. What I mean by that is, there are inherent sacrifices that come along with that. Family time, hanging out with friends, being a great friend, being a great son, nephew, whatever the case may be.” – Kobe Bryant

“The most important thing is you must put everybody on notice that you’re here and you are for real.” – Kobe Bryant

“When I have the chance to guard Michael Jordan, I want to guard him. I want him. It’s the ultimate challenge.” – Kobe Bryant

“I’ve played with a broken hand, a sprained ankle, a torn shoulder, a fractured tooth, a severed lip, and a knee the size of a softball.” – Kobe Bryant

“I remain focused on changing the world in positive ways through diverse stories, characters, and leadership in order to inspire the next generation.” – Kobe Bryant

“Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.” – Kobe Bryant

“May you always remember to enjoy the road, especially when it’s a hard one.” – Kobe Bryant

“I want to see if I can. I don’t know if I can. I want to find out. I want to see. I’m going to do what I always do; I’m going to break it down to its smallest form, smallest detail, and go after it. Day by day, one day at a time.” – Kobe Bryant

“Have a good time. Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged. You have to keep moving. You have to keep going. Put one foot in front of the other, smile, and just keep on rolling.” – Kobe Bryant

“Be willing to sacrifice anything, but compromise nothing in your quest to be your best.” – Kobe Bryant

“Everything has a purpose. And that purpose has a story that goes along with it. It just depends on what your passion is.” – Kobe Bryant

“It’s the one thing you can control. You are responsible for how people remember you—or don’t. So don’t take it lightly.” – Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant Quotes on Mentality

“Everyone looks at your watch and it represents who you are, your values, and your personal style.” – Kobe Bryant

“A lot of people say they want to be great, but they’re not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve greatness.” – Kobe Bryant

“People just don’t understand how obsessed I am with winning.” – Kobe Bryant

“I see the beauty in getting up in the morning and being in pain because I know all the hard work that it took to get to this point. So, I’m not, I’m not sad about retiring. I’m very appreciative of what I’ve had.” – Kobe Bryant

“You guys know how I am. I don’t forget anything.” – Kobe Bryant

“No matter what the injury—unless it’s completely debilitating—I’m going to be the same player I’ve always been.” – Kobe Bryant

“It’s an understanding that you can’t have life without death, can’t have light without the dark, right? So it’s an acceptance of that.” – Kobe Bryant

“Some people wanted me to come back down to earth. To come down to their level. To relax. But I couldn’t. It wasn’t in my DNA.” – Kobe Bryant

“We psych ourselves up too much. Like if you try to talk yourself into, ‘Oh, this is a big moment, this is a big shot,’ you’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself. You shot that shot hundreds and thousands of times. Just shoot another one.” – Kobe Bryant

“There’s nothing truly to be afraid of, when you think about it, because I’ve failed before, and I woke up the next morning, and I’m okay.” – Kobe Bryant

“From the beginning, I wanted to be the best. I had a constant craving, a yearning, to improve and be the best.” – Kobe Bryant

“Losing is losing. There aren’t different degrees of losing. You either win a championship or you’re sh*t. It’s very black and white to me.” – Kobe Bryant

“Because to go where others have never gone, you have to do what others have never done.” – Kobe Bryant

“These young guys are playing checkers. I’m out there playing chess.” – Kobe Bryant

“I focus on one thing and one thing only—that’s trying to win as many championships as I can.” – Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant Quotes on Hard Work

“You have to work hard in the dark to shine in the light.” – Kobe Bryant

“I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. No matter what the injury—unless it’s completely debilitating—I’m going to be the same player I’ve always been. I’ll figure it out. I’ll make some tweaks, some changes, but I’m still coming.” – Kobe Bryant

“I saw you come in and I wanted you to know that it doesn’t matter how hard you work, that I’m willing to work harder than you.” – Kobe Bryant

“We all can be masters at our craft, but you have to make a choice. What I mean by that is, there are inherent sacrifices that come along with that. Family time, hanging out with friends, being a great friend, being a great son, nephew, whatever the case may be. There are sacrifices that come along with making that decision.” – Kobe Bryant

“I want to learn how to become the best basketball player in the world. And if I’m going to learn that, I gotta learn from the best. Kids go to school to be doctors or lawyers, so forth and so on and that’s where they study. My place to study is from the best.” – Kobe Bryant

“Friends can come and go, but banners hang forever.” – Kobe Bryant

“I love that kids are building confidence on and off the court and unlocking their potential through sport.” – Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant Quotes On Criticism

“There’s certain players that I’ve made cry. If I can make you cry by being sarcastic, then I really don’t want to play with you in the playoffs.” – Kobe Bryant

“Learn to love the hate. Embrace it. Enjoy it. You earned it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and everyone should have one about you.” – Kobe Bryant

“It doesn’t bother me at all. Do I hold any hard feelings? Not at all. Life is too short to sit around and hold grudges. I don’t hold any whatsoever.” – Kobe Bryant

“People say bad things about you in the paper on Monday, and then on Wednesday, you’re the greatest thing since sliced bread. I’ve seen that cycle, so why would I be nervous about it happening?”

Kobe Bryant Quotes on Leadership

“You want me to own a team and deal with these rich, spoiled, stubborn athletes, and try to get them to perform? No thank you.” – Kobe Bryant

“The beauty of coaching is growing the players from the ground up. That journey continues.” – Kobe Bryant

“My role is to make sure we’re moving in the right direction, getting points, rebounds, steals, assists, and providing leadership.” – Kobe Bryant

“The odd thing is that I wound up learning more about the world around me by having a singular focus inside of me.” – Kobe Bryant

“I had to organize things. So I created the ‘Black Mamba.’ So Kobe has to deal with these issues, all the personal challenges. The Black Mamba steps on the court and does what he does. I’m destroying everybody that steps on the court.” – Kobe Bryant

“It’s different from being 21 and you think there’s an endless amount of opportunities. At 33, the ending is much, much closer.” – Kobe Bryant

“I don’t just try to score. The challenge is elevating my teammates to be able to win a championship.” – Kobe Bryant

“Leadership is lonely. I’m not going to be afraid of confrontation to get us to where we need to go.” – Kobe Bryant

“I don’t think a coach becomes the right coach until he wins a championship.” – Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant Quotes on Himself

“One thing you gotta know about me is I have absolutely no filter. I have no problem saying what the hell I think of someone.” – Kobe Bryant

“Sometimes I do wonder what college would have been like. But I made my decision.” – Kobe Bryant

“It’s hard for me to grasp the concept of somebody being nervous when I’m talking to them.” – Kobe Bryant

“I’m not the most patient of people.” – Kobe Bryant

“The examples are endless but my philosophy is simple. Once I knew my seed, I was able to discover my muse and my purpose for being was crystal clear.” – Kobe Bryant

“Either way, I refuse to change what I am. A lion has to eat. Run with me or run from me.” – Kobe Bryant

“I wanna be the best, simple, and plain.” – Kobe Bryant

“I don’t want chumps, I don’t want pushovers, and if you’re a chump and a pushover, I will run over you.” – Kobe Bryant

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