Kobe Bryant slammed modern-day approach to practices: 'Phil never gave us a light day; there's no days off'

That sums up the personality of the "Black Mamba"—always willing to work even as the Los Angeles Lakers were preparing for another title run. No. 24 knew he needed to keep improving. He set a standard that he expected from all his teammates around him.

"You show up, and you work in practice, and practices are going to be worse; they ought to be more physical; there's going to be more trash-talking, and I'm going to let you know if you didn't show up today, I'm gonna let you know; it's gonna be embarrassing; you gonna hate it, but when Game 7 rolls around NBA Finals, you will be prepared," Bryant said.

Kobe's relentless drive throughout his career paid off, as he led the Lakers to five championships in the post-Showtime era, cementing his place as one of the greatest players ever. Even when Shaquille O'Neal departed for the Miami Heat, the legendary guard's commitment to constant improvement never wavered.

Dispute over ethics

However, as much as Bean's work ethic inspired many, it also created tension, particularly with teammates who didn't share his level of commitment.

Kobe's approach wasn't always met with enthusiasm. At the start of the 2014-15 season, the Lakers were struggling. By the end of 2014, the team had lost 22 games and won only 10.

During a particularly intense practice session in mid-December, Kobe was vocal about his frustrations and told his teammates that he saw why they had lost so many games that season and that they were "soft like Charmin," a brand of toilet paper known for being soft and gentle. 

Kobe's message was that the team wasn't showing the necessary toughness to win. He was also frustrated that not many guys around the NBA shared the same approach.

"These practices are meant to be competitive; if your practices aren't more competitive than the games themselves, you're doing the wrong thing, and most of these teams and coaches have gotten into the mindset of resting players. 'Oh, it's too much; we're not going to practice. Light day, light day,' Phil never gave us a light day; there's no days off," said the NBA icon.

Bryant's leadership was harsh at times, but it was rooted in the belief that hard work was the key to winning championships.

Kobe knew there were no shortcuts. His work ethic was his trademark, and he only had issues with those who couldn't keep up with it. It was simple for the "Black Mamba": If you wanted to be great, you had to do the work.