The Mamba Mentality: How I Play is Kobe Bryant’s inspirational and detailed 20-year basketball autobiography. For Bryant, the mamba mentality is his ability to focus and have faith that his hard work and practice pay off, during the most trying of times. Bryant shares his mamba mentality, as a mantra mindset, for competitive growth, discipline, and spirit in order to improve athletes and non-athletes, alike. In addition, Bryant prioritizes his professional goals above and beyond a regular lifestyle to be the best. As one of the most revered athletes of all time, he has won five NBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, eighteen All-Star selections, and four All-Star MVP game awards. In his book, Bryant discusses his participation with the Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, and Olympic Team USA. Bryant also tells of his ice routines after games, sports injuries, sports medicine, coaches, friendships, family, and legacy. Ultimately, Bryant’s determination in The Mamba Mentality: How I Play is well received, motivational, and influential.

Basketball took him to new places. Kobe is an Oscar and Emmy winner for his short film “Dear Basketball” but he claims that he could not have been a “creator or writer without hoops” (Byrant 200). He owes his Emmy and Oscar award to basketball for guiding him and giving him creative thoughts. This book isn’t about basketball, it’s about the Mamba Mentality.

He might not be with us now, but he continues to live in our memories. I hope he’s at a better place.