Kobe was notorious around the league for his incredible work ethic. Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade once told a story about how during the 2008 Olympics, they got up one morning to find Kobe drenched in sweat, with ice on his knees, looking like he had not only put in a full workout already, but an intense one. According to Wade, "Everybody else just woke up... We're all yawning, and he's already three hours and a full workout into his day."
You have to keep in mind that this was nothing unusual for Kobe. If you look at any old MJ interviews, you'll notice by the way he talks that he has a level of respect for Kobe that seems to be higher than the respect he has for most other players, maybe even all other players. I believe the reason for this is because he put in the same kind of work ethic. I would go so far as to say that while Kobe might not be the best player of all-time, he was probably the hardest working player.
Something that helps promote Kobe's legendary image of hard work is probably that he practiced a biphasic sleep cycle. This is closely related to a similar sleep cycle called a polyphasic sleep cycle. The difference between the two is that biphasic sleepers sleep two times every night, while polyphasic sleepers generally have more than two sleep sessions in a 24-hour period. If you've never heard of this, it may sound like anyone that sleeps two or more times a day is being lazy, but that would be a misunderstanding. Polyphasic and biphasic sleepers break up their sleep into multiple sessions so that they can sleep less and still function normally. Kobe broke his sleep into two two-hour sessions, giving him a total of around 4 hours of sleep a night.
I'm not saying this to throw shade at Lebron, but it is difficult to discuss Kobe's sleep habits without comparing them to his since he sleeps 3 times longer! Yes, you heard that right. Lebron sleeps 12 hours a night and Kobe sleeps (or at least slept) 4 hours a night. This is only being mentioned here because it is interesting that these two players who are often compared and measured against each other by fans both have extreme sleep patterns but in opposite ways. Anyone could argue that Lebron has been smart since that may be the reason he has such incredible resilience to injuries, but it also seems to me that Kobe sacrificed sleep for greatness. However, when he talks about it, he speaks as if it didn't take any extra effort, as if his insane work ethic was natural to him and that it didn't seem stressful or difficult at all. That seems to be a trait found in many incredibly driven people.
What do you think about Kobe's work ethic and sleep patterns?
FAQs
Kobe is well known for his work ethic and his “no-excuses” mentality. He was famous for showing up to 7 a.m. practice and putting in the extra hours just because he didn't want to lose to the competition. Kobe never made excuses either.
What was Kobe Bryant's most famous quote? ›
As the NBA icon said best: "Hard work outweighs talent — every time." Gianna and Kobe Bryant. "You don't want to jump into something if you're not passionate about it." "Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged.
What is the Mamba mentality quote about work ethic? ›
Those times when you get up early and you work hard; those times when you stay up late and you work hard; those times when you don't feel like working, you're too tired, you don't want to push yourself, but you do it anyway; that is actually the dream. That's the dream. It's not the destination, it's the journey.
How many hours a day did Kobe Bryant practice? ›
Kobe Bryant was well-known for his dedication and work ethic. He would train for approximately 6 hours a day, dividing his time evenly between shooting practice, conditioning, and skill work. This approach allowed him to improve his overall game and consistently be one of the best players in the NBA.
What mentality did Kobe Bryant have? ›
This mindset, his mindset, is called “Mamba Mentality,” a distillation of his focus that explained what everyone wanted to know: how he was able to accomplish so much, endure all the sacrifices, and remain so focused on being great at basketball.
What was Kobe Bryant's struggles? ›
Despite this, Kobe faced his own unique set of challenges on his path to greatness. One of the biggest struggles Kobe faced was moving to Italy at the age of six, where his father played professionally. He had to adjust to a new culture and learn a new language, all while maintaining his passion for basketball.
What were Kobe Bryant's words? ›
24 Kobe Bryant quotes to motivate you
- 1. " ...
- “If you love what you do and it's making you happy, all the hard work and perserverance will pay off.” ...
- “I don't want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be Kobe Bryant.” ...
- “It's not the destination. ...
- “Have a good time. ...
- “Get over yourself.
The NFL Hall of Famer connected the dots between Bryant being someone who idolized Michael Jordan, then emulated him and had the gall to believe he could surpass the legend almost universally recognized as the greatest NBA player ever. “When I say Mamba forever, I'm a big Michael Jordan fan.
What was Kobe Bryant passionate about? ›
He stepped out of his comfort zone to pursue new passions, like writing and producing, just because he wanted to. Even when people questioned his choices or critiqued his work outside of basketball, Kobe remained confidently independent and comfortably himself.
What was Kobe Bryant known for? ›
Kobe Bryant (born August 23, 1978, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died January 26, 2020, Calabasas, California) was an American professional basketball player, who helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to five championships (2000–02 and 2009–10).
Based on his book The Mamba Mentality: How I Play he shared that there are 5 Pillars of The Mamba Mentality, that is:
- Be Passionate.
- Be Obsessive.
- Be Relentless.
- Be Resilient.
- Be Fearless.
Kobe Bryant's Diet
Kobe Bryant and other members of his team followed a strict diet implemented by the nutritionist the Lakers hired for the team. The diet is similar to the Paleo diet and focuses primarily on protein from grass-fed animals and organic vegetables.
Did Kobe ever take a day off? ›
The Black Mamba played 20 seasons of Hall of Fame basketball in the NBA, and says he only took time off when he was unable to walk. Load management? Kobe's not a fan. Bryant is happily retired, and adds that “curiosity” is what separated him from his peers.
What did Kobe Bryant get on his SAT? ›
Kobe Bryant did take the SAT during his high school years, and he reportedly scored a 1080 out of 1600. However, since he chose to forgo college and entered the NBA directly after high school, Kobe's SAT score didn't affect his basketball career path.
What was Kobe Bryant's personality traits? ›
As an ENTJ, Kobe tends to be charismatic, direct, and logical. Kobe likely enjoys taking charge, working to achieve goals, and encouraging growth from others.
What are Kobe Bryant's beliefs? ›
Kobe Bryant was a practicing Catholic who emphasized the importance of faith in a myriad of ways. This article shows how religion had a transformative impact on his life, including the influence of Catholic social teachings on Bryant's outlook and motivation during and after his playing days.
How much did Kobe practice in high school? ›
According to a Team USA trainer, Kobe once held a workout from 4:15 a.m. to 11 a.m., refusing to leave the gym until he made 800 shots. This wasn't unusual. He used to show up to practice at 5 am and leave at 7 am, in high school.
What were Kobe Bryant's thoughts? ›
A lot of people say they want to be great, but they're not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve greatness. From the beginning, I wanted to be the best. I had a constant craving, a yearning, to improve and be the best. I never needed any external forces to motivate me.
