“Kobe Bryant’s Piece Didn’t Just Snap Back in!”: Gary Vitti Once Went Into the Gritty Details of Black Mamba’s Most Painful Moment

Nithin Joseph | 29/01/2023
"Kobe Bryant's Piece Didn't Just Snap Back in!": Gary Vitti Once Went Into the Gritty Details of Black Mamba's Most Painful Moment

There can be no denying the greatness of Kobe Bryant. The Black Mamba is a legend of the game whose dominance on the court is known far and wide.

But, even a legend like Kobe had his struggles. To be specific, the five-time NBA Champion struggled with injuries, especially at the tail end of his career.

That didn’t stop him though. Given the chance, Bryant would play through injury. Like the time when he dislocated his finger, popped it back in, and continued playing.

Also Read: “Kobe Bryant Pulled up And Met Us”: When Klay Thompson Narrated His First Experience of Meeting Lakers Legend as a Kid

Gary Vitti shares the gruesome details of one of the worst injuries Kobe Bryant suffered

Over the years, Gary Vitti has seen many things during his time as head trainer of the LA Lakers. From amazing athletic feats to horrendous injuries.

One such injury included the time Kobe Bryant dislocated his finger mid-game. It was perhaps the worst dislocation Vitti had ever seen. But, what was more startling for him, as he revealed to Byron Scott, was the way the Black Mamba dealt with it like it was nothing.

“He dislocated his finger, and it can be really really difficult depending on the dislocation to get that back in. That particular dislocation was extremely difficult. If you look at my face, I’m gritting my teeth, pulling on that thing. Finally, it goes back into place. And as soon as it goes in…he was gone! Like I patted him on the head like, “okay! It’s gonna be okay”. Next thing I know, he was gone! That in and of itself showed the toughness and the tenacity of Kobe Bryant.”

A true testament to Kobe’s mentality. His Mamba Mentality did not allow him to give up, even when his body has.

Kobe once shot free throws with a torn Achilles

A dislocated finger wasn’t the worst thing that has happened to Kobe Bryant. Perhaps his worst injury came later on in his career when he suffered a torn Achilles injury. But, that didn’t stop him from taking two clutch free throws for his team.

Kobe was a true warrior. From the start of his career to the end. One of the greatest of all time.

Also Read: Youngest All-Star in the NBA: How Old Was Kobe Bryant When He Beat Out Magic Johnson For the Honor?

Post Edited By: Tonoy Sengupta
Gary Vitti Kobe Bryant

About the author

Nithin Joseph

Nithin is a content writer at The SportsRush. Like his favorite athlete Kobe Bryant, the company has helped Nithin elevate his writing skills to a whole new level, especially as an NBA content writer. With over 1500 articles to his name, Nithin's love for the sport knows no bounds. And, as he continues to watch the sport on a daily basis, he hopes his fascination with the NBA, especially the Miami Heat will inspire more and more readers to give the sport a chance. Perhaps, one day making basketball in India as big as it is in the United States.

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