Kobe Bryant’s Age Struggles Tested His Ironclad Values, Ex-Lakers Teammate Reveals While Recounting Final NBA Battles

Few NBA players could match Kobe Bryant work ethic. Injury days? They hardly bothered him. Kobe never let anything stop him from becoming the best. Nike’s Nick Young, who spent Kobe’s last three seasons with the The Los Angeles Lakerssaw it with his own eyes. He experienced the intensity of the Mamba Mentality, even when Bryant’s body was uncooperative.

During an appearance on the “Gil’s Arena” podcast, Young reflected on those days with Bryant. When asked about Kobe’s training habits in the later stages of his career, Young painted a picture of unwavering dedication. “The first year he came back from injury, he showed up to training camp trying to be, you know, the first person in the gym.” Young shared that Kobe then went on a grueling run, but he was still first in line, setting the tone for everyone else, he said.

But the story takes a humorous turn on the second day of training camp. As Young recalled, Kobe struggled to deal with his lingering ankle injury. “He said, ‘Nick, it’s okay, I’m telling you this old shit has caught up with me.'” Young laughed, adding that Bryant had admitted: “My ankle is not feeling well today, you have it.” Even when he couldn’t train properly, Kobe was still at the training table, working hard, embodying the spirit of perseverance.

Kobe’s tragic loss in a helicopter crash in 2020 didn’t just take away an NBA legend; it left behind the lasting legacy of the Mamba Mentality. While he lacks the natural gifts of some of his peers, the five-time NBA champion earned his spot as the Lakers’ GOAT through sheer willpower, a distinction even Magic Johnson acknowledges.

During a training session with young athletes, Bryant himself defined the Mamba Mentality as “a constant quest to try to be better today than yesterday.” It’s a mindset Nick Young has experienced first-hand.

Kobe Bryant already put Young’s broken thumb to the test!

During the 2013 to 2016 seasons, Kobe Bryant and Nick Young shared the court as teammates. It was a difficult time for the Lakers, who were far from their former glory. Yet, Bryant’s mentality never wavered. “no excuses” Young’s attitude set the tone for every practice, expecting 100 percent effort from everyone around him. Young, who was nursing a hand injury at the time, found himself in Kobe’s crosshairs. “He didn’t think I was hurt or anything like that.” Young recalled that Bryant thought he was simply trying to miss practice.

Young’s workout then turned into a painful ordeal. Kobe, convinced that Young was faking his injury, decided to put him to the test. “You’re faking it, man, you better start practicing.” Bryant told him so. What followed was a relentless barrage of passes thrown with extra force. “The whole practice, he was throwing the ball really hard at me… I was catching it with one hand like I was saying, ‘Come on man, fuck, I told you my thumb hurts.’” Young shared, vividly recalling the intensity of that session.

Eventually, the team’s coach had to step in, explaining to Kobe that Young wasn’t faking it, that he had actually broken his thumb. It was only then that Kobe backtracked, later apologizing for his behavior. But the moment, as intense as it was, highlighted the very essence of Bryant’s Mamba Mentality: no excuses, no pity, just the relentless pursuit of excellence.

Stay tuned for more updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team selection, Asia Avinger.