Hello Fellow Good Dads,
Yesterday marked Kobe Day—8/24—a date immortalized by the numbers Kobe Bryant wore while dominating the NBA, from 1996 to his final game in 2016, where he dropped an unforgettable 60 points in his epic ‘Mamba Out’ performance.
I actually had tickets to that game, but I made the mistake of selling them because I didn’t think Kobe would play due to injury. 😤🤬
But I digress…
To many men around the world, myself included, Kobe was far more than just a legendary basketball player. He embodied the principle that ‘hard work and determination can beat talent any day.‘ Kobe wasn’t the most naturally gifted player—what set him apart was his relentless work ethic and proved that you could actually work hard to greatness. And he applied that same tenacity to everything he did, even winning an Oscar after his basketball career.
While his fierce competitiveness on the court was awe-inspiring, what resonates with me even more is how Kobe is remembered as a father, husband and family man despite his transgressions. Even though; his very public job as the starting Shooting Guard and possibly the greatest Los Angeles Laker to ever do it, Kobe Bryant, his wife, and their kids were able to do the work necessary to piece their family back together and living a loving and caring life.
Also, his devotion to his daughters specifically and the legacy he left behind as a ‘super dad supporter’ is profound. The hashtag #girldad became a powerful tribute to him when he tragically passed away alongside his daughter, Gianna, in a helicopter crash a few years ago.
Which is still shocking to me. I remember sitting in my bed crying texting my other adult male friends who shedding tears as well. It was that impactful if grown men were genuinely hurt by this.
One memory that sticks with me is a video of Kobe pacing around his bedroom, cradling his infant daughter in one arm and pumping his fist with the other, whispering, “OMG, we really won,” after the Eagles clinched the Super Bowl. It was a glimpse into the joy and pride he felt as a father as he silently celebrated —a side of Kobe that was just as intense as his game-day persona.
Kobe was a DAD and there is no doubt that his priority was his family despite his basketball prowess. And I wanted to see if Kobe ever spoke of being a dad and he indeed did; quite a bit actually. Here are my 3 favorite quotes:
- “I want to make sure the days that I’m away from them are days that I absolutely have to be, I’d rather be with them than doing anything else.”
- “I had to figure out a way where I could still train and focus on the craft, but still not compromise family time. That’s when I looked into helicopters to be able to get down and back in 15 minutes.”
- “We try to teach the kids what excellence looks like. We try to give them a foundation of the amount of work that it takes to be excellent.”
These 3 quotes puts Kobe’s perspective on the importance to fathering on full display.
I have no doubt that if Kobe’s life hadn’t been cut short, he would have continued to pour that same level of effort into coaching Gianna in basketball, supporting Natalia’s modeling ambitions, and encouraging whatever dreams Bianka and Capri pursued. That’s the kind of commitment we need to bring to our own roles as fathers.
How will you embrace YOUR Mamba Mentality in fatherhood—approaching every day with the determination to be the best dads we can be?
🍻 Cheers to your Mamba Mentality in fathering!
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