Kobe Bryant is one of the most maniacal competitors the NBA has ever seen. So much so that he had to give himself an alternate persona known as the ‘Black Mamba’ to distinguish between his actual self and the man he becomes out on NBA hardwood.
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Him being as competitive and as hardworking as he was paid off however as he would go on to win 5 championships in the league all while being named an MVP along the way. He’s also had an inordinate amount of All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defense nods to his name over the 20 years that he was with the Los Angeles Lakers.
His journey in the league after having 3-peated with Shaquille O’Neal could be described as one that revolved around him proving to the world that he could do it without ‘The Big Aristotle’. Especially after Shaq had won his 4th title with Dwyane Wade in Miami, Kobe took the floor night in and night out in pursuit of a title without O’Neal by his side.
Also read: Kobe Bryant Was Terrible at Golf, Reveals Mavericks Coach, Jason Kidd
Kobe Bryant and his ‘job’s not finished’ mentality
After being in a state of limbo from 2004 to 2007 where he would undoubtedly be the best player in the league on a team filled with mediocrity, Kobe Bryant received Pau Gasol. This would immediately place the Lakers in a position to contend for a title and they did so the very first year Pau made it to LA.
After losing to the Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals, they would make it to the Finals in 2009 as well and this time, face off against a younger, less experienced team in the Orlando Magic led by Dwight Howard.
After 2 games, the Lakers would be leading the series 2-0. Following a 29 points performance in Game 2, Kobe was asked during his postgame presser why he looked unhappy. His response?
“What’s there to be happy about? Job’s not finished. Job finished? No, I don’t think so.”
Kobe Bryant was right about the job not being finished
The very next game, in Game 3, the Orlando Magic would win 108-104 against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers despite a 31 point and 8 assist effort from Kobe Bryant.
With the series looking like it was reaching quite an interesting point going into a pivotal Game 4, Bryant took over the reins on the offense and led the purple and gold to a victory that 4th game. He dropped 32 points on a horrid 11-31 shooting from the field and would lead the Lakers to a win in Game 5 as well to bring the Lakers their first title since the Kobe-Shaq era.
