Home » NBA » When Kobe Bryant named Giannis Antetokounmpo and this NBA Champion as stars having ‘Mamba mentality’

Legendary Kobe Bryant was always referred to as the Black Mamba. Here is the time when Kobe said Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyrie have the ‘Mamba Mentality.’

Five-time NBA Champion Legendary Kobe Bryant is always referred to as the Black Mamba and has always led a “Mamba Mentality” for his way of life on and off the court. 

Kobe Bryant is one of the legends of the game Image Credits – Royal Tech Systems

During an interview with NBA, he was asked about what is “Mamba Mentality” to which he said that it is just the simplest form of trying to get better at whatever you are doing.

“It’s not an attitude, per se, it’s the way you live, which is trying to get better every single day. It’s not something where you live with bravado or anything like that, it’s just the simplest form of trying to get better at whatever it is that you’re doing.” Kobe said 

When asked about two players whom he thinks has the ‘Mamba Mentality, he responded with two names Kyrie Irving and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“You see the improvements in their game from it. That’s all that Mamba mentality is, it’s just trying to get better every single day,” the five-time champion said.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has lived upto Kobe’s praise for him 

This Greek-Nigerian basketball Player Giannis Antetokounmpo has certainly shown the world why Kobe was not wrong when he said that Giannis has a ‘Mamba Mentality.

He went on to become one of the most decorated players in the history of the NBA. Antetokounmpo won consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player Awards in 2019 and 2020, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to win two MVPs before turning 26.

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo has won NBA Championship in 2021

Giannis has also been named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, becoming only the third player after Michael Jordan (1988) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1994) to win both awards in the same season. He has also led the Bucks to their first NBA Championship since 1971 last year was named Finals MVP. He was also honoured as one of the league’s greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

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