Kobe back in Manila, preaches ‘Mamba Mentality’

MANILA, Philippines - Back in a country that shares his intense passion for basketball, retired NBA superstar Kobe Bryant yesterday let Filipinos in on the “Mamba Mentality” – a key ingredient to his hoops success – while offering sound advice to Olympics-aspiring Gilas Pilipinas.

Bryant, a five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and recipient of multiple individual honors, urged Filipinos to adopt the same winning attitude that served him well throughout his stellar 20-year career.

“It’s the constant quest to be the best version of yourself, the quest to be better today than yesterday,” said Bryant, who is in town for the “Mamba Mentality Tour” for Nike, his first since marking his final game with a 60-point performance in a 101-96 win over Utah last April.

The 37-year-old “Black Mamba” is known for his work ethic and working out on his own ahead of his team’s formal practices.

In everyday life, his “Mamba Mentality” also comes into play. “The other day at the house, my kids wanted me to make lasagna. When I make lasagna, it has to be the best lasagna I could possibly make… measure every detail of it,” he said.

A two-time Olympic champion (2008 and 2012), Bryant was asked what a team like Gilas needs to do to achieve its dream of making it to Rio.

His response: Believe and work hard.

“First, you have to have belief. Imagination is the most important part, that’s where it starts. They have to believe,” Bryant said in a discussion with select media representatives.

“Secondly, it’s practice, practice. Everybody can walk around and have hope all day, but having hope would be meaningless if you don’t work to achieve your goal. So for them, the best advice I can give is practice really, really hard, work together and identify what your weaknesses are and work to make those your strength,” he added.

Competitive basketball out of the way, Bryant has shifted his focus to Kobe Inc., a multi-level business which aims to, among others, create books, TV shows and films that will inspire kids.

Bryant ruled out coaching, but opened the door for team ownership.

“Ownership? Maybe, but in a passive sense. Coaching? No. If I’m a coach, I can only teach 15 players but through story telling, I can teach millions. I think that really will raise the level of the game more than I can do by coaching,” he said.

Bryant is on his seventh visit to the basketball-crazy Philippines. His itinerary included yesterday’s press conference and the “Mamba Mentality Night” at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, and today’s “Kobe Academy” where he’s set to train with select players.