You know it's about to be a sad one when you have to write about someone in the past tense. Another unbelievable talent gone too soon. Kobe Bryant tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in 2020, aged 41, with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. He was more than just a phenomenal basketball player and the Los Angeles Lakers superstar. Bryant was the "Girl Dad," a husband, writer, producer, philanthropist, and a truly inspirational figure for many.
Although The Black Mamba left us far too soon, he profoundly impacted basketball, culture, and the entire world. Two years before his death, Kobe wrote his first book, a basketball memoir, The Mamba Mentality: How I Play. In the book, he shared his personal perspective on life and career and his insightful playing style. However, not only his Mamba mentality was put into words and typed out. Derived from plenty of interviews, public messages, and presumably from his book, many Kobe Bryant quotes, both motivational and uplifting, serve as an inspiration for many people worldwide.
Kobe Bryant's inspirational quotes show the tenacity, ambition, and drive that made him an icon and a hero for many. Among the many motivational quotes, Kobe will forever be remembered for all he contributed to the basketball community, the city of LA, his family, and the entire world, really. Although Kobe Bryant's passing is still felt by people of all backgrounds, his unparalleled influence will never be forgotten.
Below, we've gathered some of the most inspiring quotes and quotes about working hard that demonstrate what an actual legend Kobe was. Forever in our hearts, rest in peace, Black Mamba.
Is there a Kobe Bryant quote that inspired you to reach for the heights and move mountains? Let us know!
#1
"If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail."
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#2
"I create my own path. It was straight and narrow. I looked at it this way: you were either in my way or out of it."
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#3
"Leadership is lonely. I'm not going to be afraid of confrontation to get us to where we need to go."
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#4
"If you do not believe in yourself no one will do it for you."
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#5
"I see the beauty in getting up in the morning and being in pain because I know all the hard work that it took to get to this point. So, I'm not, I'm not sad about [retiring]. I'm very appreciative of what I've had."
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#6
"People say bad things about you in the paper on Monday, and then on Wednesday, you're the greatest thing since sliced bread. I've seen that cycle, so why would I be nervous about it happening?"
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#7
"A lot of leaders fail because they don’t have the bravery to touch that nerve or strike that chord."
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#8
"I never needed any external forces to motivate me."
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#9
"You guys know how I am. I don’t forget anything."
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#10
"I don't want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be Kobe Bryant."
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#11
"I don’t f**k with bees, man. Other than that, I’m not afraid of nothing."
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#12
"I’m reflective only in the sense that I learn to move forward. I reflect with a purpose."
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#13
"It’s the one thing you can control. You are responsible for how people remember you—or don’t. So don’t take it lightly."
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#14
"You can't stop people from trying to limit your dreams, but you can stop it from becoming a reality. Your dreams are up to you. I encourage you to always be curious, always seek out things you love and always work hard once you find it."
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#15
"People just don't understand how obsessed I am with winning."
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#16
“If you want to be a better player, you have to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more.”
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#17
“I made every second of the national anthem count.”
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#18
“No matter what, people are going to like you or not like you. So be authentic and let them like you or not for who you actually are.”
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#19
"Once you know what failure feels like, determination chases success."
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#20
"After all, greatness is not for everybody."
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