When Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020, the world not only lost an NBA legend but one of the biggest cultural icons ever.
Bryant was drafted out of high school at 17 years old by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Pennsylvania native went on to win five NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVPs, and earned 18 All-Star nods, all with the Lakers.
Bryant, nicknamed "The Black Mamba," was known for his "Mamba Mentality," referring to the two-time scoring champion's unmatched work ethic and intensity. The Hall of Famer was never satisfied until he reached the ultimate goal of winning a ring.
Kobe Bryant Turned Adversity Into Fuel
As accomplished as Bryant was as a player, he didn't reach the mountaintop without going through challenges. For example, he averaged just 15.5 minutes as a rookie and the Lakers got bounced out of the playoffs in his second and third seasons before they won three straight titles from 2000 to 2002 with him and fellow Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal.
Bryant remained confident when things didn't go his way, and that attitude spawned a quote that encapsulated his "Mamba Mentality."
