The Mamba Mentality: How I Play

The Mamba Mentality is divided into two parts; the first, “Process,” is focused on conveying Bryant’s philosophical approach, which he distinguishes from his mechanical, technical approaches, described in the second part, “Craft.” Both sections are structured similarly—Bryant presents his core ideas and observations with a subhead that is explored in typically brief, two to three paragraph reflections.

In “Process,” Bryant recounts how he was determined not to become self-conscious about his game, even as a 17-year-old new draft pick. He realized that he would rather risk embarrassing himself by taking chances than risk missing out on opportunities to learn. As he watched the players around him on his team and the opposing teams they faced, he did not hesitate to incorporate the techniques that he saw, even if he might look foolish or fail in his initial attempts to execute them. As a young player, Bryant hoped to make a positive impression in his interactions with the media, but he realized later in life that people were going to like him or not, regardless of what he said or did. He remained polite and engaging in interviews, but he decided it would be a waste of his efforts to try to convince others to see him in a certain way.

Bryant begins with his intentional habits, examining what led to his success. He recounts how weightlifting was central to his strength, lifting heavy for 90 minutes, four days a week, followed by basketball practice. Eventually, he learned to optimize the early morning hours and late-night hours for additional workout time, which also gave him more time with his family. Next, Bryant shows how he prioritized studying basketball tapes, trained his mind to stay on-task and present, and was extremely tuned into his needs in each situation. Similarly, he approached his practices based on where he felt he needed the most work on a given night, without a set routine; however, he made a point to remain in shape and able to run long distances, even in the off season. Rather than relax, Bryant used his downtime in the ice bath following a match to recover physically from the match, review the game, and study to improve his strategy.

Bryant details how he took advantage of the expertise of those around him. He describes constantly asking questions of great players whenever the moment presented itself. Sometimes he was rebuffed by those who were not receptive to his enthusiasm and gregariousness, but he was never deterred; his desire to learn outweighed his need to be liked, and he found that the majority of those he interacted with were patient with him and took time to mentor and educate him. While his routine changed, his approach to the game never did, but he also acknowledges how the approach is different for every player.

Physical wellbeing, therapy, and recovery are themes in “Process,” and Bryant paints a picture of how much time he dedicated to therapy and keeping his body in peak physical condition over the years. He discusses his stretching routine, how these routines changed over time, and how he needed to listen to his body more as he got older or had to accommodate injuries. Crucially, he differentiated between being hurt and being injured, deciding when he could play through pain and discomfort and when it was wisest to rest, recover, and seek additional medical support. He examines his relationship with Judy Seto, his longtime physical therapist, and Gary Vitti, his trainer, both of whom he admires for their own dedication and excellence to their own craft. Bryant further explores the way particular injuries challenged his game, including a sprained ankle in 2000, which led him to taking tap dancing as a form of therapy.

Bryant then explores his relationship with major figures in NBA basketball, including Jerry West, who graciously shared his advice with Bryant, and Magic Johnson, whose techniques taught Bryant about using his body off the dribble. He also explores how Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Muhammad Ali, and Bill Russell were all influential and inspiring to him, along with the lessons he learned from teammates such as Byron Scott. Bryant then discusses various coaches and what made them great, and how Phil Jackson was so pivotal to his success. Bryant considers how they were perfectly suited for one another, but that it took some time to figure that out.

Across three sections, Bryant provides his perspective on the role of the referees and his own cultivated relationship to them. He recognizes the turbulence endured by many of the referees officiating on the court, and he remembers making a contentious effort to communicate his respect for their role and build a rapport with each of them that endured over the years. Bryant also read the official handbook governing the expectations and regulations to which all referees were expected to adhere. He learned aspects of their approach and the delegation of their responsibilities; this knowledge allowed him to strategically consider what less-than-legal strategies he might be able to employ on the court without being detected. Returning to exploring his own dedication to the sport, Bryant describes how he worked through the pain of injuries, and once had to change his shooting form to accommodate his injuries. His 2013 Achilles tendon injury proved pivotal, and he describes it as his “personal Everest,” as he did not want the injury to dictate his retirement.

When he was invited to design his own Nikes, Bryant was adamant about the shoes being functional and supportive, rather than flashy. He learned from soccer players that a low-top shoe could be more supportive on the court, and convinced Nike to make them, thus changing basketball footwear. Bryant segues to the lessons he learned as part of the American Olympic Men’s Basketball team (Team USA), and how traveling to compete against international teams held its own challenges. He remembers his positive relationship with Coach Mike Krzyzewski, how that coach gave them a sense of patriotism, and how his discussions with LeBron James and interactions with Dwayne Wade allowed him to play the way he always wanted to. He also explores how being an older player on Team USA and in his later years at the Lakers put him in a leadership role, where others were looking to him for guidance.

The final page of the “Process” section indicates that the phrase “The Mamba Mentality” encapsulates the principles in the preceding and following pages. Bryant coined the phrase as an afterthought in a hashtag on Twitter because he thought #MambaMentality sounded engaging, but discovered great reward when the hashtag gained popularity among people who used it to refer to the processes they took toward success.