"I was trying to look cool at the press conference" - Kobe Bryant on being called cocky while announcing he would join NBA

There's a thin line between being confident and cocky, and the iconic Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant straddled that early in his career. Coming off a phenomenal high school run at Lower Merion, where he dominated the competition, Bryant immediately announced he was entering the 1996 NBA Draft. However, that pivotal moment in Bean's career already rubbed others the wrong way.

At that press conference, Kobe was seen sporting sunglasses while answering questions from the media. Many viewed this as a cocky move, thinking he was trying to make a big statement. But for Bryant, it was simply an attempt at hiding his nerves and staying composed in front of the cameras.

Acting his age

Long before he became the "Black Mamba" in the NBA, Kobe set the high school scene ablaze. He averaged 30.8 points, 12 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4.0 steals, and 3.8 blocked shots per game, leading Lower Merion to its first state title in over 50 years.

Donning a brown suit with sunglasses on his forehead, the 18-year-old future superstar announced he would not attend college to enter the NBA Draft. Before people knew who he was, they had already thought he was a brash young man. But Kobe brushed that allegation off, saying he aimed to look cool.

"You know, I was 17 years old, trying to do the right thing, trying to look cool at the press conference," Kobe told SLAM Magazine.

The Hall of Famer admitted his confidence came from hard work. He would spend countless hours in the gym, stopping at nothing to perfect both the basics and the intricacies of the game.

"I work really, really hard at what I do. I don't think that people really know that. They don't know I'm in there putting in eight hours of work a day. I think it'll all come out in the end. You know, I'm not a cocky person. I believe in what I'm capable of doing, but I'm not cocky," Bryant added.

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Earned his stripes

Although KB became one of the all-time greats, his career didn't get off to a sizzling start. The Lakers legend played 15.5 minutes a game and averaged 7.6 points in his rookie year. He also shot several airballs in the West semis against the Utah Jazz when he got a chance to showcase his talents in the playoffs.

"When I started out, I came to a championship contender. But I had to earn my playing time; I had to pay my dues. I had to shoot, whatever it was, four, five, six airballs in the playoffs. I had to go through getting swept twice in the playoffs, taking criticism for starting in an NBA All-Star Game and not starting on my team, or whatever the case may be," Bryant said.

Despite his early struggles, Kobe remained undeterred in his pursuit of greatness. He persevered, paying his dues until he became a perennial All-Star and a many-time NBA champion.

"I've been able to pay my dues and work extremely hard to get to a position where I am right now...I mean, this kind of goes back to the point where, people really don't know too much about me," Bryant stated.

Initially perceived as cocky, Kobe proved himself to be a relentless and dedicated player, never allowing the criticism of others to deter him from achieving his NBA and life goals.

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