The resiliency with which Kobe Bryant approached the game may never be replicated by anybody else in the NBA for a very long time. Bryant’s sole purpose during his 20 years in the league was to win at the highest level and at any cost.
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A perfect example was during Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals when he realized that his shot wasn’t falling so, he dedicated himself to the grabbing boards and playing the best defense that he could on and off the ball. This was quite uncharacteristic of him given his tendency to force shots but it was his drive to win that led him to do something that drastic with his game.
However, unlike most superstars nowadays, Kobe never ‘turned it off’ during the regular season. This was the case during a game against the Golden State Warriors in mid April of 2013 when the Lakers were trying to secure a spot in the Playoffs for themselves.
Gary Vitti knew that Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles
Kobe Bryant, despite being in his 17th season in the NBA, was leading the purple and gold to yet another run to the postseason while averaging 27.3 points on 46.3% shooting from the field, all while playing 78 games.
During a game against the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers’ 3rd last game of the regular season, Kobe would unfortunately rupture his Achilles tendon. LA’s athletic trainer, Gary Vitti, would ask him during the game what happened and Kobe would describe the pain as if someone had kicked him in the back of his leg.
Vitti knew more or less from this description that ‘The Black Mamba’ had torn his Achilles. However, knowing Kobe, not only did he return to the game to attempt his free throws, but he forced the medical staff to schedule his surgery to repair it the very next day.
The Lakers ended up winning the game despite 47 points from Stephen Curry and snuck in the Playoffs as a 7th seed with 45 wins. They would however, get trounced out of the first round by getting swept by the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs.
Gary Vitti has a history with the Lakers
Gary Vitti is most associated with Kobe Bryant given just how much exposure he’s gotten for helping him through his Achilles injury. However, most don’t know that this was more so towards the tail end of his career as an athletic trainer with the Lakers.
He joined the purple and gold’s staff back in 1984 and the first season he spent with them was a season Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won yet another championship. Vitti has been a part of 8 titles for the Lakers, ranging from 1985 all the way to 2010. He’s reportedly amassed a net worth of $1.6 million according to ‘ncertpoint’.
