Kobe Bryant was not only known for his extraordinary talent but also for his evolution as a leader. Throughout his illustrious career with the Los Angeles Lakers , Bryant's unwavering commitment to excellence and relentless work ethic inspired his teammates. However, it was his realization that true leadership extends beyond personal achievement that marked a significant turning point in his legacy.
Bryant's intense focus on performance sometimes alienated those around him. It was only until an anonymous teammate enlightened him about the importance of emotional attachment within a team in the pursuit of greatness.
"I've had a teammate that spoke to me and said, 'Hey Kob', I just wanna feel like, as a teammate, you need me.' [I was like] 'Duh! Yeah, of course!'" Bryant said in a podcast interview.
"But I had to kind of think about where that was coming from for him and his story and his journey," he continued. "What that meant to him and that opened my eyes that there's a bigger game being played; it's not just basketball, but it's the emotions of each individual and the back story that they're carrying with them, the baggage that they're carrying with them and if I really wanna be a champion, be a great teammate, I have to understand what those mean to help them become better and in turn, help me."
Kobe liked to be criticized by his teammates
After Shaquille O'Neal left L.A., Kobe took over. From that point forward, the Lakers were Kobe's team, and everyone who joined the organization fully understood it, regardless of their status.
That said, most of Bryant's teammates, especially the younger ones, were so intimidated by the future Hall of Famer's presence that they never had the guts to call him out when he did something wrong. According to former Laker Wesley Johnson, that was the case, but that wasn't how Kobe wanted his teammates to be. As it turned out, Bryant appreciated when his teammates stood up to him and criticized him.
"If he (does) something bad, say it to him. People are probably scared to say something. He respects when people do that to him. He does something wrong, let him know," Johnson said of Kobe.
Leadership was Kobe's underrated trait
Bryant's legendary career spanned 20 years. The Lakers legend won five NBA titles and earned 18 All-Star selections, and is often celebrated for his individual skills, which set him apart from the rest.
However, Bryant was equally legendary for his leadership qualities, which are frequently overlooked. In retrospect, "Black Mamba" was arguably the best in self-improvement and beating his opponents 1-on-1, but many of his former Lakers teammates, though not all, also view him as a commendable leader.
Related: Trevor Ariza expands on Kobe Bryant sending everyone "blueprints" after 2008 Finals loss: "Everything he said—it worked"
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