If there was one thing where Kobe Bryant never let anyone beat him, it was working harder than anyone else. Be it when he played for the Los Angeles Lakers or for team USA, Kobe had an insane work ethic and wanted to be better than anyone else.
In 2008, when Kobe and Bosh played together for team USA, Bryant left a lasting impact on Bosh that he still remembers to this date.
The former Miami Heat superstar was recently inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. During his HoF speech, the 37-year-old shared an encounter with Kobe that shocked him.
"So the goal was to be the first one at breakfast. So I set my alarm. I make sure, I'm up by sunrise. I get out of bed. I put on my gear and I head downstairs. But when I get there, Kobe is already there, with ice packs on his knees. Drenched in sweat. Now it took me a minute to figure it out, but this guy wasn't only awake before me.
"He had already worked out. He had just played in the finals days earlier. Meanwhile, I'd been off for months and I was still exhausted. What he had done that morning was incomprehensible to me. That dedication he had only days after falling short of an NBA championship. That taught me something I've never forgotten. Legends aren't defined by their successes, they're defined by how they bounce back from their failures."
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The 2008 redeem team led by Kobe Bryant was one of the best international teams ever formed. It had the likes of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh, and many more NBA superstars. But the biggest spotlight was on Kobe Bryant.
He recently lost in an NBA Final, critics were starting to question his ability to lead the Lakers to a title without a second star.
Well, after winning the gold with team USA, Kobe went on to win two consecutive titles in 2009 and 2010. By winning these championships, he established himself as one of the best players to ever play in the NBA and now had a ring on each finger of his one hand.
If it weren't for his unbelievable work ethic, he might not have reached where he did in his 20-years long career. He came to the league as a young boy but left it as a legend who will always have a special place in the hearts of fans.
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