I used to watch every single lakers game I could when Kobe played.

My uncle had a basketball goal in the alley way, where I would walk a few blocks from my house and pretend to be Kobe in the 4th quarter and practice game winning shots for hours.

I went as far as counting down with a dribble and a crossover... 3...2...1...

It's safe to say, I have a little bias here... as Kobe is one of my favorite athletes, much less basketball players... of all time.

For the first time since Kobe retired, I started watching the Lakers playoff series the last week.

They lost tonight and are done for the year.

But watching their last few games reminded me of the late nights in middle school/high school I would spend watching the lakers on a school night Tuesday till 11pm, on the edge of the chair trying to contain my energy as my mom slept in the bedroom close by.

It reminded me of this excitement I had for watching the Lakers, and specifically Kobe, play in these nail biter games year after year.

And it reminded me of this player I saw with an absolute killer mindset.

I mean killer in a good way here. The Lakers could have used him and his energy in this series.

Kobe had this alter ego, The Black Mamba.

He was the last person you wanted to face in the final minutes of a game.

This ego, in retirement... produced a book and a philosophy... called the Mamba Mindset.

It's a valuable look into what one of the greats did to be great, but what any of us could do to live a LIFE.

Here are a few main points of the Mamba Mindset. After each, I will give you my two cents on how this could apply to all of us.

1. Obsessive Work Ethic

Kobe was famous for his relentless training schedule. He believed in outworking everyone — training early, often, and intensely.

"The mindset isn’t about seeking a result—it’s more about the process of getting to that result."

My two cents: Process > Results. Keep your focus on the day-to-day actions that slowly get you where you want to be.

2. Relentless Pursuit of Excellence

Mamba Mentality is about always striving to be better than you were yesterday. It's not about being better than others, but better than yourself.

"Mamba Mentality is all about focusing on the process and trusting in the hard work when it matters most."

My two cents: Your effort is all you can control

3. Curiosity & Learning

Kobe approached the game — and life — with curiosity. He studied opponents, asked questions, and learned from everyone, including legends and newcomers.

My two cents: Be curious about everyone and everything, learn from it all

4. Resilience Through Adversity

Injuries, losses, and setbacks didn’t stop Kobe — they fueled him. Mamba Mentality means pushing through challenges without losing focus or heart.

My two cents: GRIT matters. Any setback is a moment for growth, if you can take inventory and position yourself in that viewpoint.

5. Fearlessness

Kobe embraced pressure and fear. He saw fear as an illusion and believed in attacking challenges head-on.

"Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise."

My two cents: Don't shy away from fear, pressure, challenge. The quickest way through the storm is by running through it, not away from it. #HEADFIRST

6. Discipline & Sacrifice

He made enormous sacrifices for his goals — missing events, playing through pain, and maintaining total discipline in all aspects of training.

My two cents: What you prioritize in your life will create the life you're in. If you don't enjoy where you are, change your priorities.

7. Love for the Game

At the heart of it all, Kobe’s passion and love for basketball were the ultimate motivators. Mamba Mentality means doing what you love with complete commitment.

My two cents: Commit yourself to the things you are passionate about. Establish values for yourself and align your actions to create habits that embody your values.

You could think... this is a professional athlete with all the means to live a life this way. They missed actual life. Or... you could think... this is a human who had purpose and passion to be great, what might I learn from them.

Take this with you in the gym and in life.

See ya out there,

Coach D.