Kobe Bryant on Life, Love and Legacy

“If you’re going to have a story, have a big story.” - Joseph Campbell

I was heartbroken to hear the news of the fatal helicopter crash that caused the death of legendary Kobe Bryant, along with his oldest daughter Gigi and seven others.

Kobe inspired me for years, and I know he inspired so many other people across the world.

My heart goes out to his family and the families of those involved with the crash. There are no words to express my sadness. When I interviewed Kobe in 2018, I asked him what love was, and he described love as "a journey that has its ups and its downs...it's a certain persistence to go through the good times and the bad times with someone or something that you truly love."

Even though Kobe is not with us, I know that his legacy of love and greatness will continue to inspire and strengthen us for years to come.

In this episode, I wanted to revisit our interview together as a memorial of his testament of greatness. Kobe was a champion, and to be a champion, you have to have the champion mentality. He definitely had that figured out.

No one has mastered the art of staying focused on your goal and working tirelessly towards it like the legend and icon, Kobe Bryant. 

Kobe is widely regarded as one of the best basketball players of all time.

He won five NBA championships with the Lakers and led the NBA in scoring during two seasons. He was an 18-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team. He holds the NBA record for the most seasons played with one franchise for an entire career: 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.

In 2018, he received an Academy Award for his animated short “Dear Basketball.” He also launched a podcast called The Punies that teaches kids morals and history in a really fun way.

Kobe was known for his Mamba Mentality, but it’s his big heart that is truly admirable. He was constantly reinventing himself and continuing to pursue new dreams.

I have so much respect for Kobe Bryant. Please join me in revisiting his legacy, his Mamba Mentality, and his wisdom on embracing failure on Episode 908.

Who was your greatest teacher? (7:10) What are some other things you do to raise the level of your teammates? (17:00) What’s been your greatest challenge since leaving the game? (20:30) What’s a constant theme in your life? (24:40) Why is storytelling important to you? (25:39) What’s your greatest weakness? (34:35)

All about the “Mamba Mentality” (12:20) Why he has a passion of storytelling (26:00) Why you should be excited about failure (27:10) Kobe’s greatest moment in 20 seasons of basketball (36:14) Kobe’s daily routine (39:00) Plus much more...

If you enjoyed this episode, check out the video, show notes and more at http://www.lewishowes.com/908 and follow at instagram.com/lewishowes