“I’d Want Kobe Bryant In The Foxhole”: Gary Vitti Reluctantly Equates Lakers legend’s Ferocity To Going To War

Kobe Bryant was most certainly one of the most intense players to have taken to NBA hardwood. It’s no doubt that he got that intensity from emulating his idol, Michael Jordan. He took quite a few things from MJ, some of which he would take, perfect, and even surpass him in. 

While many point out that Kobe’s fadeaway was better than Jordan’s, the real test of superiority came when comparing their mindsets. They were both winners but ‘The Black Mamba’ was more maniacal when it came to winning. 

Tim Grover even said that the main difference between the two was that Michael knew when to stop. Kobe didn’t. He trained relentlessly to achieve what he wanted to achieve. Once he did so, he was back in the gym trying to replicate his dominance all over again.

Also read: “Oh Yeah!”: Kobe Bryant, Who is 6ft 6in Tall, Thought he was Pele When he Played Soccer in Italy

Gary Vitti on Kobe Bryant and his intensity 

Gary Vitti worked with the Los Angeles Lakers as an athletic trainer ever since their 1985 championship alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He witnessed 8 titles having been won by the purple and gold, all the way from the Magic-Kareem days to Kobe’s two solo titles in 2009 and 2010. 

Over the course of his time with the purple and gold, he grew close to Kobe Bryant. Given his close proximity to the 5x NBA champion over the course of several years, he has experienced quite a bit of what made Bryant tick. 

He would go on Byron Scott’s podcast recently and open up about just how intense Kobe was all throughout his day at the Lakers facility. Whether it was with the busboy or his own teammates, he never turned it off.  

He would then go on to reluctantly compare Kobe’s ‘Mamba Mentality’ to what it feels like to go to war.

Kobe Bryant would berate his teammates 

Kobe Bryant wasn’t shy to go at his teammates both verbally and physically. He would insult Dwight Howard in practice repeatedly, go at the younger guys on multiple occasions, and refuse to pass the ball to Shaquille O’Neal when he knew that he’d just get fouled and miss free throws. 

Kobe had the guts to do what most players in sports don’t. Push his teammates to their own limits in ways that most wouldn’t deem possible.

Also read: “Vanessa Bryant was Rude, Standoffish, Difficult”: Kobe Bryant and His Wife Initially Took To Fame Terribly, Jeff Pearlman Once Revealed