‘Kobe Bryant was playing harder than ever’: Former star Matt Barnes reveals the time when the Black Mamba crushed teenagers in a pickup game

Matt Barnes narrated a hilarious story to Stephen Jackson from the time when Kobe Bryant crushed some teenagers in a pick-up game.

There is no other who is more fierce a competitor than the late Kobe Bryant. When we talk about history’s hardest workers, we could all unanimously place the Black Mamba’s name on top of the list.

There have been several instances when the Lakers’ former legend has given his heart out on the court. When Kobe was out on the basketball, everybody was prepared to sustain the wrath of the Mamba.

Bryant’s former teammate Matt Barnes has a lot of respect for him. He has often stated what Kobe meant to him and how there was no one more competitive than Bryant.. Barnes narrated:

“He treated every basketball situation like it was a real game. Whether it was an All-Star game or not. But I remember he (Kobe) invited me up to his camp in Santa Barbara. I remember I was coming off knee surgery that season.”

“So I’m thinking I’m just going to talk and hang out. We’re out there playing 2 on 2 with the likes of teenage kids. And bro when I tell you, Kobe was playing harder than shit. Blocking shots, dunking, make one kid fall and I’m like ‘damn Kobe! These are fuc**ing kids’. And was like ‘so?’.”

 

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Also Read: “I want to get to the NBA before Michael Jordan gets too old.”: How Kobe Bryant knew what he wanted for the future and his NBA career even as a High-School senior

Matt Barnes lauds Kobe Bryant for his ‘Mamba Mentality’

In his 20 years in the league, Bryant left his heart and soul in every game. Matt Barnes rightfully stated how the five-time champion didn’t care who he played against, he would go at it against anyone. Barnes stated:

“He didn’t give a shit who was in front of him. If a basketball was thrown up, it was going down.”

Matt Barnes with a story about Kobe Bryant on the Bill Simmons podcast courtesy of @ringer: pic.twitter.com/1a6kQgWFLT

— The Lakers Review (@TheLakersReview) May 23, 2020

Also Read: “I would have lost my virginity to Michael Jordan”: When VJ Kennedy won Nets tickets from the Bulls legend in a game of dice

Players like Kobe Bryant don’t come around very often. Stories like these only make the legacy of Kobe Bryant grow more and more. His inspiring stories on his work ethic and passion for the game are something that people should look up to.