Draft:Mamba Mentality

  • Comment: I don't really see where there's enough here for its own page. It's already mentioned on the Kobe Bryant page, and it isn't like an established or influential philosophy in its own right. BuySomeApples (talk) 23:28, 13 January 2024 (UTC)
  • Comment: The CNN and Insider Business articles does not even mention the term.
    SOme sources appear to be unreliable. Medium is a blogging site, and this thesis has not been peer reviewed or written by an established expert. Please remove and replace those sources.
    This articles needs some critical analysis of the term. The thesis would have been expert had it be reliable.
    Good luck on finding sources? Ca talk to me! 11:15, 10 December 2023 (UTC)
  • Comment: There are two duplicate sources that mention this term, other sources make no mention of the full term. Greenman (talk) 07:04, 19 October 2023 (UTC)


The Mamba Mentality is a mindset attributed to American professional basketball player Kobe Bryant. Bryant described the philosophy in his own words as “a constant quest to try to better today than you were yesterday.”

The name is derived from one of Bryant’s most well-known nicknames, the Black Mamba.

Kobe Bryant, the inventor and namesake of the Mamba Mentality

History edit

On July 18, 2003, Bryant was arrested in Eagle, Colorado, regarding a sexual assault complaint filed by a 19 year old hotel employee. Afterwards, Bryant created an alter ego named the “Black Mamba” to separate his personal life from his basketball career. The name was inspired by the Deadly Vipers, an assassination squad from Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 film Kill Bill.[1][2]

Bryant’s work ethic and dedication was highly praised throughout his career.[3][4] According to an athletic trainer for the United States men’s national basketball team which Bryant was a member of, Bryant would work out individually beginning at 4:30am every day before team practice. [5] He later said that the Mamba Mentality “was all about 4 am workouts.”

The name “Mamba Mentality,” according to Bryant, originated during the 2016 Mamba Mentality Tour, a youth basketball clinic hosted by Bryant in Manila, Philippines. Bryant said that he worked the young players very hard and put them through an extensive number of drills, and reportedly came up with the name during the camp.[6]

Philosophy edit

The Mamba Mentality was described in Bryant’s own words as “a constant quest to be better than you were yesterday.” [6]

The Mentality consists of five essential “pillars,” which were articulated by Bryant himself. These pillars are recognized as “fearlessness,” “relentlessness,” “passion,” “obsessiveness,” and “resilience.”[7] [8][9] [10]

Legacy edit

Since its creation, the Mamba Mentality has been cited by numerous athletes as a source of inspiration,[11] including LeBron James,[12] Jayson Tatum[13] and Chris Paul,[14] as well as athletes from other sports such as Micah Parsons[15] and Novak Djokovic,[16] among others.

During the 2020 NBA Finals, the first NBA Finals series since Kobe Bryant’s death earlier that year, the Los Angeles Lakers wore “Black Mamba” uniforms, a reference to Bryant’s nickname, as a tribute. The team subsequently attempted to adopt the Mamba Mentality.[17]

In January 2024, Highsnobiety published an article titled "KOBE BRYANT’S MAMBA MENTALITY LIVES ON" by Riccardo Zazzini in which he argues that Kobe's Mamba Mentality philosophy is one of the gifts Kobe left contemporary culture before his death.[18] Zazzini refers to Kobe as, not only a basketball player, but a poet and a legend.[18]

In January 2024, on the 7PM in Brooklyn show, Carmelo Anthony and The Kid Mero discussed Kobe. Melo explained how Kobe's Mamba mentality is the greatest thing he learned from him.[19]

In January 2024, LeBron James' son Bronny James expressed on social media how he idolizes Kobe's Mamba Mentality.[20]

References edit

  1. ^ "Why Kobe Bryant gave himself the nickname 'Black Mamba'". CNN. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  2. ^ David, Juan Paolo (2023-09-19). "What does Mamba Mentality mean? Exploring famous phrase associated with late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  3. ^ Davis, Scott (Jan 26, 2023). "How Kobe Bryant became one of NBA's all-time great players". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  4. ^ "The Black Mamba may be gone but the mentality that made him a legend lives on". CNN. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  5. ^ Badger, Rational (2023-02-19). "Mamba Mentality". Medium. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  6. ^ a b "Kobe Bryant Day: What 'Mamba Mentality' Meant in His Own Words". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  7. ^ Yeary, Henry. "THE MAMBA MENTALITY: How Bryant's Basketball Philosophy on the Pursuit of Excellence can Inspire the Next Generation toward Virtuous Action". etd.library.emory.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  8. ^ Authors, Greatness (2023-01-05). "Greatness | Upgrade Your Work Ethic into Kobe Bryant's Mamba Mentality". Greatness. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  9. ^ "Why Indiana football's Matthew Bedford embraces Kobe Bryant's 'Mamba Mentality'". Why Indiana football’s Matthew Bedford embraces Kobe Bryant’s ‘Mamba Mentality’ - Indiana Daily Student. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  10. ^ Turner, Jon (2023-09-11). "Novak Djokovic channels 'Mamba Mentality' to create more tennis history at US Open". The National. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  11. ^ Woike, Dan (2021-05-14). "How Kobe Bryant influenced the next generation of NBA stars". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  12. ^ "Heading into the NBA Finals, LeBron James Talks About Kobe's 'Mamba Mentality'". BET. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  13. ^ Cruz, Mike (2023-12-06). "Celtics: Jayson Tatum reveals Mamba Mentality lesson he takes from Kobe Bryant". ClutchPoints | Boston Celtics News. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  14. ^ "How Chris Paul Channels the Mamba Mentality—And How You Can Too". Men's Health. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  15. ^ "Cowbuzz: Micah inspired by 'Mamba Mentality'". www.dallascowboys.com. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  16. ^ Chavkin, Daniel (2023-06-11). "Novak Djokovic Salutes Kobe Bryant After Record-Breaking French Open Victory". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  17. ^ "One win from the NBA title, Lakers will wear 'Black Mamba' uniforms for Game 5". CNN. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  18. ^ a b "Kobe Bryant's Mamba Mentality Lives On". Highsnobiety. 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  19. ^ Yalung, Brian (2024-01-29). "Carmelo Anthony on the most important lesson he learned from Kobe Bryant: "He was a smart motherf***er"". Basketball Network - Your daily dose of basketball. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  20. ^ Ansari, MD Asif (2024-01-29). "$5.8 million NIL-valued Bronny James idolizes "Mamba mentality" stature with his throwback post for NBA legend Kobe Bryant". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2024-02-02.