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Scott Davis
Updated
2023-01-26T17:23:32Z
- Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash three years ago on January 26, 2020. He was 41.
- Bryant was one of the NBA's greatest players and known for a relentless work ethic.
- Read below for 12 inspiring quotes from Bryant on hard work and success.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
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Kobe Bryant was one of nine people killed in a helicopter crash three years ago, on January 26, 2020. He was 41. His 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also killed in the crash.
Bryant was one of the greatest NBA players of all-time and an icon in the sports world. In addition to his success on the basketball court, Bryant was known for a ceaseless work ethic and incredible drive.
In honor of Bryant's legacy, here are 12 inspiring quotes from Bryant on hard work, success, and life.
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Kobe Bryant on achieving success:
"When you make a choice and say, 'Come hell or high water, I am going to be this,' then you should not be surprised when you are that. It should not be something that is intoxicating or out of character because you have seen this moment for so long that ... when that moment comes, of course it is here because it has been here the whole time, because it has been [in your mind] the whole time."
Source: Showtime's "Muse"
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His advice to Gordon Hayward about returning rehabbing an injury:
"Reality gives nothing back and nor should you. Time to move on and focus on doing everything in your power to prepare for surgery, ask all the questions to be sure you understand fully the procedure so that you may visualize it in your subconscious while being operated on and better the chance of it's success. Then focus on the recovery process day by day by day. It's a long journey but if you focus on the mini milestones along the way you will find beauty in the struggle of doing simple things that prior to this injury were taken for granted. This will also mean that when you return you will have a new perspective. You will be so appreciative of being able to stand, walk, run that you will train harder than you ever have. You see the belief within you grow with each mini milestone and you will come back a better player for it."
Source: Instagram
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On the challenge of coming back from injuries:
"The process of it [drives me to come back]. I want to see if I can. I don't know if I can. I want to find out. I want to see. I'm going to do what I always do: I'm going to break it down to its smallest form, smallest detail, and go after it. Day by day, one day at a time."
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On giving up friends and personal life for career success:
"I have 'like minds.' You know, I've been fortunate to play in Los Angeles, where there are a lot of people like me. Actors. Musicians. Businessmen. Obsessives. People who feel like God put them on earth to do whatever it is that they do. Now, do we have time to build great relationships? Do we have time to build great friendships? No. Do we have time to socialize and to hangout aimlessly? No. Do we want to do that? No. We want to work. I enjoy working."
Source: GQ
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On going straight from high school to the NBA:
"I want to learn how to become the best basketball player in the world. And if I'm going to learn that, I gotta learn from the best. Kids go to school to be doctors or lawyers, so forth and so on and that's where they study. My place to study is from the best."
Source: Showtime's "Muse"
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On realizing he was different from other NBA players:
"I never looked at [basketball] as work. I didn't realize it was work until my first year in the NBA. When I came around, I was surrounded by other professionals and I thought basketball was going to be everything to them and it wasn't. And I was like, 'This is different.' I thought everybody was so obsessive about the game like me. It was like, no? Oh, that's hard work. I get it now."
Source: ESPN
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On failure:
"When we are saying this cannot be accomplished, this cannot be done, then we are short-changing ourselves. My brain, it cannot process failure. It will not process failure. Because if I have to sit there and face myself and tell myself, 'You're a failure,' I think that is a worse, that is almost worse than death."
Source:Showtime's "Muse."
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On not being afraid of failure:
"I don't mean to sound cavalier when I say that, but never. It's basketball. I've practiced and practiced and played so many times. There's nothing truly to be afraid of, when you think about it ... Because I've failed before, and I woke up the next morning, and I'm OK. People say bad things about you in the paper on Monday, and then on Wednesday, you're the greatest thing since sliced bread. I've seen that cycle, so why would I be nervous about it happening?"
Source: ESPN
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On making sacrifices:
"There's a choice that we have to make as people, as individuals. If you want to be great at something there is a choice you have to make. We can all be masters at our craft, but you have to make a choice. What I mean by that is, there are inherent sacrifices that come along with that — family time, hanging out with your friends, being a great friend. being a great son, nephew, whatever the case may be. There are sacrifices that come along with that."
Source: Showtime's "Muse"
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On what it takes to lead:
"Leadership is lonely ... I'm not going to be afraid of confrontation to get us to where we need to go. There's a big misconception where people thinking winning or success comes from everybody putting their arms around each other and singing kumbaya and patting them on the back when they mess up, and that's just not reality. If you are going to be a leader, you are not going to please everybody. You have to hold people accountable. Even if you have that moment of being uncomfortable."
Source: NBA TV
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On winning his first championship:
"I can remember winning the first championship and kind of being like, 'Okay, now what? What happens now?' ... [Teammates] celebrating, waving champagne bottles around ... And outside of that, it was, 'Okay, now what?'"
Source: Showtime's "Muse"
On retiring and facing the end of his basketball career:
"There is beauty in that. I mean, it's going through the cycle. I mean, it's the cycle that is the natural progression of growth, of maturation. I mean, there's no sadness in that ... I see the beauty in not being able to blow past defenders anymore, you know what I mean? I see the beauty in getting up in the morning and being in pain because I know all the hard work that it took to get to this point. So, I'm not, I'm not sad about it. I'm very appreciative of what I've had."
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Now, look back on the life of Kobe Bryant...
The incredible life of Kobe Bryant, the 41-year-old basketball legend who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday
Read next
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a vast amount of information on various topics, including the concepts mentioned in this article. I can provide you with insights and information related to Kobe Bryant's quotes on hard work, success, and life. Let's dive into it!
Kobe Bryant's Quotes on Hard Work and Success
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On achieving success: Kobe Bryant emphasized the importance of making a choice and committing to it. He believed that when you have a clear vision and work towards it relentlessly, success becomes inevitable. He stated, "When you make a choice and say, 'Come hell or high water, I am going to be this,' then you should not be surprised when you are that" [[1]].
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Advice to Gordon Hayward about returning from injury: Bryant offered advice to Gordon Hayward on how to approach the recovery process after an injury. He encouraged Hayward to focus on the small milestones along the way and find beauty in the struggle of doing simple things that were previously taken for granted. Bryant believed that appreciating the journey and visualizing success can lead to a stronger comeback [[2]].
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On the challenge of coming back from injuries: Bryant acknowledged the difficulty of returning from injuries but emphasized the importance of breaking down the process into smaller steps. He believed in taking it one day at a time and approaching each detail with dedication and determination [[3]].
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On giving up personal life for career success: Bryant acknowledged that his pursuit of greatness required sacrifices. He mentioned that he surrounded himself with like-minded individuals who shared his passion and work ethic. Bryant prioritized his career and enjoyed the process of working towards his goals, rather than engaging in aimless socializing [[4]].
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On going straight from high school to the NBA: Bryant explained his decision to skip college and go straight to the NBA. He saw the opportunity to learn from the best in the league and believed that studying basketball at the highest level would help him become the best player in the world [[5]].
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On realizing he was different from other NBA players: Bryant initially thought that every NBA player would be as obsessive about the game as he was. However, he realized that his dedication and work ethic set him apart. He saw basketball as more than just work and embraced the challenges that came with it [[6]].
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On failure: Bryant had a mindset that did not process failure. He believed that doubting oneself and accepting failure as an option was worse than anything else. He stated, "My brain, it cannot process failure. It will not process failure" [[7]].
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On not being afraid of failure: Bryant expressed that he was not afraid of failure because he had experienced it before and knew that life goes on. He emphasized that basketball was just a game and that the cycle of criticism and praise would not affect him. Bryant's focus was on continuous improvement and pushing himself to be better [[8]].
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On making sacrifices: Bryant believed that greatness required making choices and sacrifices. He acknowledged that pursuing excellence in one area often meant sacrificing time with family and friends. He emphasized the inherent sacrifices that come with dedicating oneself to a craft [[9]].
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On what it takes to lead: Bryant believed that leadership could be a lonely journey. He emphasized the importance of holding people accountable and not being afraid of confrontation. He stated that true leadership involves making uncomfortable decisions and not always seeking approval from others [[10]].
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On winning his first championship: After winning his first championship, Bryant realized that success did not bring the fulfillment he expected. He questioned what came next and found that the true beauty lay in the process of growth and maturation. He appreciated the hard work and effort it took to reach that point [[11]].
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On retiring and facing the end of his basketball career: Bryant saw retirement as a natural progression of growth and maturation. He found beauty in the limitations that came with age and appreciated the journey he had undertaken. He expressed gratitude for the experiences and hard work that shaped his career [[12]].
These quotes provide insights into Kobe Bryant's mindset, work ethic, and approach to success. They reflect his dedication, determination, and the lessons he learned throughout his career.
I hope this information gives you a deeper understanding of Kobe Bryant's perspective on hard work, success, and life. If you have any more questions or need further information, feel free to ask!
