10 of the best Kobe Bryant quotes that anyone can appreciate
When the end of an era comes closer than you're prepared for, there isn't much you can do about it.
Whether you know every statistic of every basketball player on the court, or you've never experienced a basketball game in your life, you know Kobe Bryant.
You can't argue the fact he's one of the best basketball players ever, but with that comes responsibilities. He was constantly in the spotlight for the good and the bad, but always had something to say.
SEE MORE: Kobe wants to show LeBron's kids why the shouldn't pass the ball
As we look back on The Black Mamba's career, here are some words of encouragement and some words that only he could get away with.
On being compared to Michael Jordan...
"I don't want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be Kobe Bryant."
On being called a "one man show..."
"There's been a lot of talk of me being a one-man show but that's simply not the case. We win games when I score 40 points and we've won when I score 10."
On self-doubt...
"I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I'm like, 'My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don't have it. I just want to chill.' We all have self-doubt. You don't deny it, but you also don't capitulate to it. You embrace it."
SEE MORE: Kobe said this, but he really meant that
On winning...
"People just don't understand how obsessed I am with winning."
On being a hero or a villain...
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On being a leader...
"The topic of leadership is a touchy one. A lot of leaders fail because they don't have the bravery to touch that nerve or strike that chord. Throughout my years, I haven't had that fear."
On the benefits of sports...
"Sports are such a great teacher. I think of everything they've taught me: camaraderie, humility, how to resolve differences."
On the young bucks...
"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess."
On age...
"It's different from being 21 and you think there's endless amount of opportunities. At 33, the ending is much, much closer."
The one constant...
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By: Jessica Kleinschmidt
