Throughout his 17-year NBA career, Metta Sandiford-Artest had the privilege of playing alongside the likes of Yao Ming, Steve Nash, and Tracy McGrady, among others. Though all of these guys were great, the 6’7” forward was certain he worked harder than them.
However, once he became teammates with Kobe Bryant , Metta realized he didn't have the work ethic of an NBA champion.
Artest was shocked to see Kobe's work ethic
In six seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, 'Ron-Ron' averaged 8.9 points per game, scoring in double-digits in only two campaigns. Although he had bigger roles on teams before becoming a Laker, his time in L.A. made him gain a more profound understanding of why championship success had eluded him.
After seeing the 'Black Mamba' work harder than anyone despite already being one of the league's top players, the former DPOY realized exactly what his mindset had been lacking.
"I don't know of many people that worked harder than me," Artest said on Club Shay Shay. "It wasn’t just working on the game; it was working on your defense; cardio... Kobe was probably one of the only guys that I’ve seen work as hard as me. When I seen Kobe work, I was kicking myself in the head. I'm like, 'You let this guy outwork you? This guy is working extremely hard. This is crazy.' He's up at 5:30 in the morning, in the gym. And I'm like, 'This is why you’re not a champion. This is why you're not a champion. Get in the gym at 5:30.'"
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Bryant's unmatched intensity
It wasn't just Sandiford-Artest who noticed this trait in Kobe. Jon Barry, who played for the Lakers when Shaquille O’Neal was the team’s driving force, mentioned how young Bryant’s mindset was so intense that every practice felt like a Game 7.
"We get ready to scrimmage, right? We’re on the second team, and he was going after Eddie Jones every day to show coach Del Harris, 'No, this is my job; I don't know why this guy's starting,' " Barry said on The Dan Patrick Show. "Literally, every day was Game 7 when we started scrimmaging. The guy was as driven as any guy I've ever known."
Being Kobe's teammate wasn't for everyone. However, those who joined the Lakers legend on his quest for greatness were rewarded for it. The same is the case for Artest, who now has an NBA championship to show for it.
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