Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant shared countless lessons with the world during his 41 years on Earth. From the game of basketball to the game of life, he showed that you can win with one team, that it doesn’t matter when you’re drafted, that failure only exists if you say so, that hard work outweighs talent and that we should always strive to be our best selves.
Today, on the fourth anniversary of Bryant’s death, we’re going to take a look at some of the key ideas Bryant taught the world. Of the lessons that follow, some are centered more around the NBA while others are more applicable to everyday life, but you may find that there’s significant crossover.
It’s no secret: Bryant spent his entire NBA career with the Lakers. From his debut in 1996 to his final game in 2016, he played every last one of his NBA games (1,346 in the regular season and 220 in the playoffs) with the Purple and Gold.
In today’s NBA, it’s becoming exceptionally rare for players to spend their entire careers with one team. Whether it’s due to organizational dysfunction, financial factors or other appealing opportunities, players in this era aren’t shy about changing teams.
And make no mistake — Bryant wasn’t always thrilled about his situation with the Lakers, with the Hall of Famer looking to leave on multiple occasions. But he ultimately stuck around, and the end result was a one-team, five-championship legacy. It can be done.
Bryant may have been a first-round pick in 1996, but 12 other players were selected ahead of him before he came off the board at No. 13 overall. In retrospect, none of the players that were selected before Bryant should have been, even if Allen Iverson (the No. 1 overall pick) put together a phenomenal career.