Return of the Black Mamba

Kobe Bryant is back after injury to lead the NBA scoring at 27.6 points a game (though he’s shooting just 40.2 percent).  Kobe has shown he still has it with great footwork and a game IQ that is as good as ever.  We won't talk about a video-game type performance of taking 37 shots he took against Phoenix (Nov. 4th) whereby he made only 14  and missed 23.  But the Black Mamba seems to back in form after missing most of the 2013-14 season.  And I thought it be great to look back on some quotes from Kobe Bryant to see what fuels this great competitor.

Kobe on the Physical

"You have to understand that your body is a machine and you have to take care of it."

Kobe on the Fundamentals & the Game

"When you get low, your legs get heavy.  Pick and choose when to get low."

"When I was growing up, every aspect of the game was important to me. Defensive footwork was important."

"When I drill, I do moves with counters."

"I feel that I don’t have any weaknesses, because I have been working on my game since I was 10. Now, I just have to stay in shape and stay healthy."

"Be an assassin. Focus on practice and every rep."

Kobe the Motivator

I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I'm like, 'My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don't have it. I just want to chill.' We all have self-doubt. You don't deny it, but you also don't capitulate to it. You embrace it.

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.

Sports are such a great teacher. I think of everything they've taught me: camaraderie, humility, how to resolve differences.

I'm reflective only in the sense that I learn to move forward. I reflect with a purpose.

The topic of leadership is a touchy one. A lot of leaders fail because they don't have the bravery to touch that nerve or strike that chord. Throughout my years, I haven't had that fear.

If you're afraid to fail, then you're probably going to fail.

Kobe Bryant - An Apt Final Thought

"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. No matter what the injury - unless it's completely debilitating - I'm going to be the same player I've always been. I'll figure it out. I'll make some tweaks, some changes, but I'm still coming."