Kobe Bryant’s career with the Los Angeles Lakers was a journey filled with glory, pain, wins, and transformation. From the moment he entered the league, Bryant committed himself fully to the Lakers franchise. Through it all, Kobe became synonymous with “Mamba Mentality.”
But even legends are not immune to time. After tearing his Achilles in 2013 and dealing with several injuries in the years that followed, Bryant entered his final year with a mix of hope and realism. Former teammate Lou Williams, who played with Kobe during that last campaign, recently opened up on the Gil’s Arena podcast about the exact moment the Lakers icon knew his body could no longer endure the grind.
“First, I wanna say this. Two-four started that season as Kobe Bryant. Training camp, he was pushing everybody. He was getting his body ready, he was getting his mind ready. He was making sure we all were on the same page,” Williams said.
Williams described a determined Bryant. He was locked in as ever, preparing to attack another season with the same fire that defined his prime. But it didn’t last long.
“And then, as I remember it, I feel like nine or 10 games in, his body started breaking down, and he came to the realization that this was the end, and his mentality shifted. He became a lot lighthearted. He became more easygoing. And I knew at that point he had kinda took his foot off the gas, like he knew his body wasn’t gonna hold up to the standard that he had set for himself,” he added.
Gary Payton Shuts Down Lou Williams’ Kobe Bryant-SGA Comparison
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been spectacular this season. After seeing his dominance, Lou Williams remarked that Shai’s mentality and offensive skillset reminded him of a young Kobe. However, speaking on the Night Cap podcast, NBA legend Gary Payton gave an unfiltered response to Williams’ comparison.
“Nowhere near Kobe, man. There’s going to be one Kobe, that’s it. There’s only one Kobe. Don’t you all compare people to people, especially somebody like Kobe Bryant? Let Shai be Shai. I don’t think he’s Kobe yet. I don’t think he’ll ever be Kobe,” Payton said.
While Shai may be carving out a legacy of his own, comparing him to an all-time great like Bryant is premature and unnecessary. In many people’s eyes, Kobe’s legacy is singular in nature.
