Kobe Bean Bryant was an American professional basketball player who helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Bryant won five NBA championships, was an 18-time All-Star, a 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, a 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team, the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), and a two-time NBA Finals MVP.
Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978 in Philadelphia. Bryant started playing basketball when he was three. He was the all-time leading scorer in Lakers history. Bryant was the first guard in NBA history to play 20 seasons. In 2018, he won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for the film Dear Basketball (2017). Bryant sadly died, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, in a helicopter crash. Numerous tributes and memorials followed. His untimely death was a blow to the basketball world. He is considered to be one of the greatest basketball players in history.
1 This is the moment I accept the most challenging times will always be behind me and in front of me. – Kobe Bryant
Challenges are a part of life. They come in front of you to introduce themselves and try to trouble you later. By overcoming them, they will remain behind you.
2 Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise. – Kobe Bryant
There are many opportunities to rise. Pressures and challenges help in doing so. They test people’s will and determination to overcome challenges.
3 The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do. – Kobe Bryant
When you inspire people, they get motivated to achieve the things they want. From this, you help them get closer to their dreams and goals. You are able to change their life.
4 Winning takes precedence overall. There’s no gray area. No almosts. – Kobe Bryant
When you win, you are valued by people. This brings you happiness and satisfaction.
5 Once you know what failure feels like, determination chases success. – Kobe Bryant
Failure always brings us down and makes us feel sad and bitter. However, you refuse to be like this forever. When you become determined not to face failure again and chase success.
6 I realized that intimidation didn’t really exist if you’re in the right frame of mind. – Kobe Bryant
When you become intimidated by others, you hold yourself back. Being in the right frame of mind lets you approach others differently. Hence, you no longer feel overpowered by them.
7 I’m reflective only in the sense that I learn to move forward. I reflect with a purpose. – Kobe Bryant
You need to move forward in life if you want a better future for yourself. When you are in the past, you make yourself busy by reflecting on the things you can learn from.
8 My parents are my backbone. Still are. They’re the only group that will support you if you score zero or you score 40. – Kobe Bryant
Parents support you no matter what situations you are in. They are the ones who care for you the most. Even if you fail in life, they will still be there for you.
9 The beauty in being blessed with talent is rising above doubters to create a beautiful moment. – Kobe Bryant
You can defeat the naysayers with your talent. They are the ones who would want to see your downfall. When you achieve things with talent, they become silent and you create a beautiful moment for yourself.
10 A lot of leaders fail because they don’t have the bravery to touch that nerve or strike that chord. – Kobe Bryant
There are very few leaders who succeed. They fail because they are unable to connect with people or do something different. Being empathetic is essential to become a leader.
11 The moment you give up is the moment you let someone else win. – Kobe Bryant
When you give up, you refuse to compete. This becomes someone else’s opportunity to win. When you are persistent in your efforts, you make it difficult for the other person to win.
12 I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you. – Kobe Bryant
Lazy people and hard-working people have two opposite personalities. They cannot relate to each other because of the different approaches they have in life. Lazy people like to be complacent while hard workers are ready to evolve.
13 If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail. – Kobe Bryant
Your thoughts shape your actions. They end up shaping your path as a result. Moving towards the path of failure or success is upon us.
14 Pain is the little voice in your head that tries to hold you back because it knows if you continue you will change. – Kobe Bryant
When we change, we experience pain in the process. Pain tries to hold us back but when we don’t let it do so, we achieve success.
15 Use your success, wealth and influence to put them in the best position to realize their own dreams and find their true purpose. – Kobe Bryant
When we are in an influential position, we use our power to influence others. People get inspired by you and want to be like you. This gives them a dream and a purpose as a result.
16 Friends can come and go, but banners hang forever. – Kobe Bryant
Nothing in life is constant. The friends we make are temporary as well. They become a part of our life only for a season.
17 If you want to be great at something, there’s a choice you have to make. What I mean by that is, there are inherent sacrifices that come along with that. – Kobe Bryant
When we want to be great at something, we need to make sacrifices along with it. Success doesn’t come easily and we should be prepared to tackle adversities.
18 We all have self-doubt. You don’t deny it, but you also don’t capitulate to it. You embrace it. – Kobe Bryant
Everybody has self-doubt within them. We must not deny it, but we must not allow it to hold us back either.
19 Heroes come and go but legends are forever. – Kobe Bryant
Heroes and legends are different. Heroes are forgotten sooner or later. Legends, on the other hand, leave their mark on the world and are always remembered.
20 I’m extremely willful to win, and I respond to challenges. It’s not a challenge to me to win the scoring title, because I know I can. – Kobe Bryant
A person gets excited to overcome challenges when they know they can respond to them. They believe in their ability to face difficulties.
21 The mindset isn’t about seeking a result, it’s more about the process of getting to that result, It’s about the journey and the approach. -Kobe Bryant
Your mindset is what helps you achieve the things you want. It isn’t about aimlessly chasing something but rather, the approach that you take to get there. It is the amount of effort you put in to move forward that actually matters.
22 A lot of people say they want to be great, but they’re not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve greatness. -Kobe Bryant
Everyone wants to be great but few are ready to put in the necessary efforts. A lot of people just want things easy. Greatness requires sacrifices and hard work. And unless you can do the needful, even if it means letting go of things that mean a lot to you, then you cannot get there.
23 One of the main takeaways was that you have to work hard in the dark to shine in the light. -Kobe Bryant
It takes a lot of work to be successful. And you do not have to wear your struggles on your sleeves to gain sympathy from others. Keep your struggles private. But once you make it, you have every right to flaunt it and celebrate it.
24 If you really want to be great at something you have to truly care about it. -Kobe Bryant
You cannot be great at anything if you do not put your heart into it. You have to really care about something to be good at it. There is no point in trying to do something that you do not want to.
25 The key, though, is being aware of how you’re feeling and how you need to be feeling, it all starts with awareness. -Kobe Bryant
The first step is to always be aware of your feelings. You need to know yourself inside out. You need to be aware of what you like and what you do not. Mastering your feelings will greatly determine your success.
26 From the beginning, I wanted to be the best. I had a constant craving, a yearning, to improve and be the best. -Kobe Bryant
You need to be obsessive about being the best. You need to crave for it and yearn for it. Unless you genuinely want it with all your heart, you will never get it. A half-hearted determination will never get you anywhere.
27 Greatness isn’t easy to achieve, It requires a lot of time, a lot of sacrifices. It requires a lot of tough choices. -Kobe Bryant
Greatness is not something that can be easily achieved. One needs to sacrifice a lot for it. You need to have the will to make tough choices even if it means losing some things that may be close to you
28 Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged, you have to keep moving, you have to keep going. -Kobe Bryant
Life’s too short for you to be discouraged by each and every small thing. Keep your head held high and move forward. Staying stagnant in life is always detrimental to your growth. Move forward because that’s what it means to be alive.
29 There’s a fine balance between obsessing about your craft and being there for your family, it’s akin to walking a tightrope. -Kobe Bryant
There is a thin line between your family and career. Sometimes, you will not be able to give your family enough time while you focus on your career. Sometimes, you’ll have to compromise one for the other. But one can always compensate.
30 The expectations I placed on myself were higher than what anyone expected from me. -Kobe Bryant
You need to always keep the bar high. How can you expect to achieve great things if all you do is aim for less? Keep your standards high and that will give you the motivation you need to conquer your fears and push forward.
31 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. -Kobe Bryant
Be your true self regardless of what people tell you. People will always judge and criticize you and that should not concern you. Focus on being your true self. Be authentic instead of pretending for validation and acceptance.
32 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. -Kobe Bryant
The legacy you leave behind is all in your hands. You are responsible for what people will remember you by. And the onus is upon you to leave a legacy behind that you can be proud of.
33 Haters are a good problem to have, Nobody hates the good ones, They hate the great ones. -Kobe Bryant
If you have haters, all it means is that you are doing great. People do not hate mediocrity. They hate those who are doing great at something they can’t do. So pay no heed to them and keep doing whatever it is you are doing.
34 We can always kind of be average and do what’s normal, I’m not in this to do what’s normal. -Kobe Bryant
You can either choose to be normal or rise above mediocrity. It’s always better to stand apart and do something great. Being average is just too normal and will never get you anywhere.
35 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. -Kobe Bryant
Walk not in the paths that others make for you. Instead, make your own path and keeping moving forward. You should decide where you want to go and not someone else. Make a path for yourself and chase it till you reach its end.
36 You can manipulate an opponent’s strength and use it against them. -Kobe Bryant
One’s strength can often become a weakness. People get over-confident about their strongholds eventually leading to their downfall. You can always manipulate your opponent’s strength and turn it into their weakness.
37 Some people, after all, enjoy looking at a watch; others are happier figuring out how the watch works. -Kobe Bryant
Some people are just okay with being in awe at wonders. And there are others who find pleasure in trying to decipher how things work. They look at things and wonder how it works and marvel at their intricacies.
38 When everyone else was thinking it was time for bed, his mind was telling him it’s time to get ahead of the competition. -Kobe Bryant
To those who are passionate, sleep seems needless. They cannot stop thinking about their goals. Their passion keeps them alive and awake.
39 If you want to be a better player, you have to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more. -Kobe Bryant
The only thing that’s going to help you win is preparation. The extent of your preparation determines the end result. If you wish to win, then you have to prepare and practice till you are perfect.
40 Dedication makes dreams come true. -Kobe Bryant
However big or small your dreams are, they can only come true if you are dedicated to making them a reality. You need to have that passion and fire within you that will help you keep chasing your dreams.
41 After all, greatness is not for everybody. -Kobe Bryant
Greatness is not everyone’s cup of coffee. Only those who are determined to work hard and give it their all can make it to the top.
42 May you always remember to enjoy the road, especially when it’s a hard one. – Kobe Bryant
They say it’s the journey that matters and never the destination. Make sure you enjoy every moment of your journey regardless of the times you fall or reach a roadblock. If you aren’t having fun, it’s not really worth it.
43 There’s nothing truly to be afraid of, when you think about it, because I’ve failed before, and I woke up the next morning, and I’m OK. -Kobe Bryant
Failure is never the end. You can always bounce back if you put your mind to it. What matters is that you do not give up and keep moving forward.
44 Trust me, setting things up right from the beginning will avoid a ton of tears and heartache. -Kobe Bryant
Planning and preparation is the most crucial part of any endeavor. If you’ve set up things right from the start, you only need to know how to execute it further.
45 I never needed any external forces to motivate me. -Kobe Bryant
Your motivations shouldn’t come from outside but rather, from within you. Every time you feel like giving up, remind yourself why you started and why you’ve continued on for so long.
46 I saw you come in and I wanted you to know that it doesn’t matter how hard you work, that I’m willing to work harder than you. -Kobe Bryant
No matter who your competition is, work harder than they do. Show them that no matter how much they try, you’ll always aspire to be better than they ever will. Show them who’s boss.
47 Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses. -Kobe Bryant
Great things aren’t just a result of talent. Hard work and perseverance are what truly help one. If you’re going to laze around and give excuses, you’ll always be left behind.
48 I don’t want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be Kobe Bryant. -Kobe Bryant
Never forget that you are your own person. Make a name for yourself rather than trying to walk in the footsteps of anyone else.
49 If you do not believe in yourself no one will do it for you. -Kobe Bryant
You need to first believe in yourself before anyone else. If you don’t have confidence in yourself, how can you expect anyone else to trust you with something? It should always start with you.
50 If I have to sit there and face myself and tell myself ‘You are a failure,’ I think that is almost worse than dying. -Kobe Bryant
It doesn’t matter what the world thinks about you. What’s important is your own opinion about yourself. If you’ve reached the point where you think you’re a failure, then that’s the end.
50 Epic Inspirational Quotes By Kobe Bryant
1. This is the moment I accept the most challenging times will always be behind me and in front of me. – Kobe Bryant
2. Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise. – Kobe Bryant
3. The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do. – Kobe Bryant
4. Winning takes precedence overall. There’s no gray area. No almosts. – Kobe Bryant
5. Once you know what failure feels like, determination chases success. – Kobe Bryant
6. I realized that intimidation didn’t really exist if you’re in the right frame of mind. – Kobe Bryant
7. I’m reflective only in the sense that I learn to move forward. I reflect with a purpose. – Kobe Bryant
8. My parents are my backbone. Still are. They’re the only group that will support you if you score zero or you score 40. – Kobe Bryant
9. The beauty in being blessed with talent is rising above doubters to create a beautiful moment. – Kobe Bryant
10. A lot of leaders fail because they don’t have the bravery to touch that nerve or strike that chord. – Kobe Bryant
11. The moment you give up is the moment you let someone else win. – Kobe Bryant
12. I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you. – Kobe Bryant
13. If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail. – Kobe Bryant
14. Pain is the little voice in your head that tries to hold you back because it knows if you continue you will change. – Kobe Bryant
15. Use your success, wealth and influence to put them in the best position to realize their own dreams and find their true purpose. – Kobe Bryant
16. Friends can come and go, but banners hang forever. – Kobe Bryant
17. If you want to be great at something, there’s a choice you have to make. What I mean by that is, there are inherent sacrifices that come along with that. – Kobe Bryant
18. We all have self-doubt. You don’t deny it, but you also don’t capitulate to it. You embrace it. – Kobe Bryant
19. Heroes come and go but legends are forever. – Kobe Bryant
20. I’m extremely willful to win, and I respond to challenges. It’s not a challenge to me to win the scoring title, because I know I can. – Kobe Bryant
21. The mindset isn’t about seeking a result, it’s more about the process of getting to that result, It’s about the journey and the approach. -Kobe Bryant
22. A lot of people say they want to be great, but they’re not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve greatness. -Kobe Bryant
23. One of the main takeaways was that you have to work hard in the dark to shine in the light. -Kobe Bryant
24. If you really want to be great at something you have to truly care about it. -Kobe Bryant
25. The key, though, is being aware of how you’re feeling and how you need to be feeling, it all starts with awareness. -Kobe Bryant
26. From the beginning, I wanted to be the best. I had a constant craving, a yearning, to improve and be the best. -Kobe Bryant
27. Greatness isn’t easy to achieve, It requires a lot of time, a lot of sacrifices. It requires a lot of tough choices. -Kobe Bryant
28. Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged, you have to keep moving, you have to keep going. -Kobe Bryant
29. There’s a fine balance between obsessing about your craft and being there for your family, it’s akin to walking a tightrope. -Kobe Bryant
30. The expectations I placed on myself were higher than what anyone expected from me. -Kobe Bryant
31. 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. -Kobe Bryant
32. 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. -Kobe Bryant
33. Haters are a good problem to have, Nobody hates the good ones, They hate the great ones. -Kobe Bryant
34. We can always kind of be average and do what’s normal, I’m not in this to do what’s normal. -Kobe Bryant
35. 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. -Kobe Bryant
36. You can manipulate an opponent’s strength and use it against them. -Kobe Bryant
37. Some people, after all, enjoy looking at a watch; others are happier figuring out how the watch works. -Kobe Bryant
38. When everyone else was thinking it was time for bed, his mind was telling him it’s time to get ahead of the competition. -Kobe Bryant
39. If you want to be a better player, you have to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more. -Kobe Bryant
40. Dedication makes dreams come true. -Kobe Bryant
41. After all, greatness is not for everybody. -Kobe Bryant
42. May you always remember to enjoy the road, especially when it’s a hard one. – Kobe Bryant
43. There’s nothing truly to be afraid of, when you think about it, because I’ve failed before, and I woke up the next morning, and I’m OK. -Kobe Bryant
44. Trust me, setting things up right from the beginning will avoid a ton of tears and heartache. -Kobe Bryant
45. I never needed any external forces to motivate me. -Kobe Bryant
46. I saw you come in and I wanted you to know that it doesn’t matter how hard you work, that I’m willing to work harder than you. -Kobe Bryant
47. Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses. -Kobe Bryant
48. I don’t want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be Kobe Bryant. -Kobe Bryant
49. If you do not believe in yourself no one will do it for you. -Kobe Bryant
50. If I have to sit there and face myself and tell myself ‘You are a failure,’ I think that is almost worse than dying. -Kobe Bryant