Kobe Bryant - The Black Mamba Mentality Full Documentary

[Music] [Applause] - Lakers pi/2 [Applause] it's copy again down by 16 they leave my cool exactly a minute for free [Applause] [Applause] started to take matter to do his own hand you gotta containers [Applause] first the big question because also few have done it and most have failed as you know come out of high school to the pros it was just the challenge that was big that you would have been the challenge it would have been a challenge but no human people say that yeah the opportunity go to Indiana played against the greatest players in the world that do that get you going on thing anything well what I really feel like to put on the the Golden Boot and purple well feels great because it's just so much pride you know behind the uniform having the legacy that's behind the uniform I remember growing up and seeing Earvin Johnson coming today coming to the NBA with LA Lakers and win another championship say me mr. Scott and worthy and so forth and when I step on the court you just feel so much pride to try to carry on this tradition carry on the legacy that mr. West and Chamberlain and the chapter and they all had did and all that still did so it's just so much pride in you it's like a dream come true I decided to see my talents [Music] Heaviside escaped college too much house Olivier with the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft the Charlotte Hornets select Kobe Bryant from Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania [Applause] the coming-out party for the high school kid Kobe Bryant meeting with the approval of that charlotte's man in attendance here and here we this is a guy whose stock has risen every time he's tried out people like this trick everyone writing when he first came out well he's gonna have to bulk up this guy is 200 pounds at six foot six he is an offensive Wiz the very very talented as all-pro hooves and when when you you look at him you're talking about a young man with range he can go off the dribble he can get his shot and in every place that he down nothing but grades no one talking and in shortness or a weakness in his game Jerry West told me today that greatness lies ahead to this young man thought he was going to be absolutely fantastic I recruited him out of high school at skin Bay College into a very physical game all he did was averaged 31 points the game is seniors here as people three losses in which the packagin i think what you like best about him everyone says that he makes everyone else around him a better player say a wedding style guy if we realize that there's a lot to overcome when you come right out of high school but if anyone has a good chance this young man is blessed with outstanding offensive skills what was it like the tryouts what did you learn well I learned that you have to work hard you have to approach the game with a serious mindset there's a step off from high school when I understand that so therefore every time I step on a basketball court I will put a strong effort out there on the floor I'm not gonna leave anything on the floor you had the grades you had the scores to go to college why do you mean it's open the challenge nope I was 40 years old and I'm sitting back and I'm looking back at my career if I went to college for failure MBA maybe I had a great career maybe not and I'm stopping that down my mom could I answer that challenge could I've responded to the challenge of the day and that's something I didn't want to have on my on my shoulders so I just really accepted he's gonna wear number eight and Kobe uh this is for you and also they have mr. Watts match exactly bring the ball up the crew at night they said visit myself you know in the hallways at the house knocking down lamps and you know creating all kinds of chaos in the house and thinking about Magic Johnson just like it's just like a dream come true straight out of high school he's been a catalyst for the team and a favorite with advertisers and fans Charlie Rose met him in 2001 when the Lakers were going for their second straight title show me a trademark Kobe shot trademark Kobe shot yeah what's a signature shot Kobe has the ball you know that the offense is set up but he's gonna take Chuck what's a signature shot you can counter this move everything all right tell me which one we can get yeah [Applause] that's the kind of play that is serving Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers very well he's one of the game's most dominant players and for good reason I love playing basketball it's nothing like it what is it you love this is the ball when it bounces the sound that it makes smell of a basketball the nets you shoot the ball and it goes right through the net sniggers has a squeak on the word strategies the competition the camaraderie the fans will only learn or I take you to this scene 20 seconds left to go you're down by one you want the ball you want to take the last shot absolutely I'm not afraid to fail and I I just love it it's just an adrenaline rush everybody in the crowd stands up and anybody's waiting to see if you're gonna make this shot if you're gonna lose the game where you gonna win the game just unbelievable rush besides he got lost for a second Kobe Bryant was a different kind of kid with a different kind of upbringing he spent most of his childhood in Italy where his father played after leaving the NBA the Bryant family spent the next eight seasons there Italia started for as great over an Italian school I was six assists there was seven my assistant was eight what influence do you think it had on you I think it made me more mature you know we had to grow up a lot faster I think it uh it brought us closer together as a family that's moving out there into a whole nother world we didn't speak the language we didn't know anybody we had to bond with one another more so than anything he also continued to bond with basketball but without the competition found at American playgrounds and schools his family came back to Philadelphia every summer and he learned quickly what he was missing so I come back to American to summertime I play to some of you and I don't school Point summer at one point the entire summer not one point not a free-throw not a layup not a steal nothing zero points don't hold summer and my father came up to me afterwards he gave me a hug he said son don't worry we're gonna love you if you score a zero a fifty yeah you know and ice we were thinking when Bryant's father retired from the game the family came back to the United States for good after a stellar high school career Kobe Bryant skipped college and went directly to the NBA today five years later he continues to defy expectation unlike a lot of players he prefers practice to partying when he isn't practicing he's working out when he isn't working out he's studying game tapes in his room there's no time left for socializing with his teammates a sore point says his head coach at the Lakers Phil Jackson last year I said you know some of the players came to me and say you know that you don't even want to go down have you know I'll buy tea with him or go to a movie with him and you know if you want to be a leader of these guys you gotta accommodate what they like and find a common niche he's had a hard time fitting in on the court - since the start of his career Kobe Bryant has been accused of not being a team player when he takes control of a game away from the Lakers of a superstar center Shaquille O'Neal and plays too aggressively the Lakers sometimes lose games they should have won this season Bryant could feel the chill on the court you just felt like something was amiss between you and your team some wasn't right some wasn't right I mean I go to practice and I feel a little uncomfortable was this about this wasn't there before something must be someone to be going on around here and what was it about well it was about me is about them thinking I was out for myself and I was being selfish which was totally not the case it is without question one of the league's most talented players but he has been criticized for poor shot selection and not playing a team game Peter spoke with the Lakers phenom the tough situation because we all want to win and Curt he wants his players today on practice he wants them there every day he wasn't doing on time yeah I practice at eleven when she's got eleven o'clock shot ready to go it doesn't mean 11:05 and I probably want you there quarter two of them exactly once you did warmed up and ready want you to just be ready to go fool out at 11 o'clock it doesn't want anybody to disobey that and especially with a couple of losses that we've had playoffs right around the corner he's fed up some of the shots eat space at this stage of his career are questionable sometimes it's so electrifying you could give him whenever I got to the point while it's kind of low or energy they've always did it pick me up and help me out kind of urged me along whoo Shaq and he's been very very supportive especially I'm being certain ball games oh I miss three shots in a row I turn the basketball over something like that hey man I said let's go relax won't get this job done and they always be very very supportive when Kurt takes you out and he has taken you out a few times for quick shots with plenty of time left on the clock what do you say what is he saying how do you handle that when you come back in mad as any player is I mean you don't wanted to take taking out a ball game because I just love the play so much regardless of his for a mistake oh it's not for mistake I won't be any play but at the same time I am I'm with him and I've told him that whatever decision you want to make whether it is to see me down or run a certain play or whatever it is I owe much you do you learn from it Toby yeah yeah you have no choice yeah but I still see I mean that look I'm sure you know that I've been on your case a little bit on TV you know we're same same exact start but I see how much talent you have and I know how young you are but do we want to use that as an excuse or are you learning no on the run I'm kind of learning on the run I think if you look at the years I've been a lead I think you've seen improvements for a shot selecting votes I'm gonna get some uh tapes from last season's at all all kind of happened myself at taking certain shots because I'll take those now are we to play a little bit better it's again I think I've actually learned pretty quickly because I've had a lot of other things too adjustable as well my big question is with the season dwindling away the games are the Lakers running out of time to become a team team this is where Brian emerged as a rising star Lower Merion High School in suburban Philadelphia he enrolled here in 1992 when he was 14 after his family spent seven years in Europe where his father finished his career Bryant says his fondest memory of high school is winning the 1996 state championship his senior year when he was also named a McDonald's all-american and Gatorades Player of the Year but hoped that success came a perceived arrogance by some that led to Bryant's highly scrutinized announcement in May of 1996 the 1996 NBA Draft was a month later Brian's hometown Sixers had the first overall pick they chose consensus number one pick Georgetown guard Allen Iverson Bryant was picked 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets before being traded to the Lakers that summer Bryant developed into a superstar and by his fourth season helped the Lakers win the 2000 NBA championship [Music] you're gonna take over give us what your opinion is in reference to why there seems to be a love-hate relationship with Kobe let's go to Pat and Southwest Philadelphia nerd and arrogant he just doesn't seem like a nice guy at all like them as a person I think a lot of that is because he plays in Los Angeles you know that's a tensile town that's glamour I mean come on Philadelphia is a blue-collar hard-working City I just get the feeling from watching you guys in the last few games that the team collectively figures that this season is over - my view from from the studio that that they feel that you know you're mentally mentally whipped mm-hmm that you've lost that edge know would you consider yourself friends don't definitely yeah don't question during the Shaq years were you guys friends know the game you know the two great players can't get along covert was just trying to do too much when you're that good you can do too much but when you play on the team you shouldn't have to be that awful there was kind of a Kobe on one side and I should kill the faction on the other whenever they went through me the outcomes the the big dog and me then the house won't get guarded I don't know why anybody else would want to change father they're selfish reasons just get off it except ever really seriously I just so you know we should stop asking me about it what would I do if you were the GM would you have kept Shaquille O'Neal and tried to work this thing out well I would have I think everybody would would probably say the same thing but I don't know what the intricacies were on the deal Shaq what had to do was best when he and his family he said so after the last game we played you know saying oh this is a business and he's gonna have to make the best decision for he and his family and that's what he did your opinion of Kobe Bryant as a player he's a great player I think if he I think if he did the little things he'd be a great player to ever play the game but he's a great player what are the little things make everybody else better he'll be the greatest play ever better than Mike better than Shaq better than Duncan be the greatest player it's a great player said that minutes out what do you think of Kobe Bryant as a person there's a matter what I think think about him as a person when I was out there on the court doing my job I play team ball so there wasn't matter what I thought about him off the court let's see what people understand is I don't have time to think about people at the court I got five kids running on my Master's I gotta go home and do I gotta go home and do law papers and study statistics and and all that stuff I don't have time to think about what he him doing is him doing that no I'm top of that could it have been worked out between the two of you could you guys have coexisted yeah absolutely no we have no we've had our spats we've had actual arguments on the floor of various reasons he you know used to get mad at me for not playing a team basketball I see they're mad at me because it wasn't in tip-top shape but you know we put our differences aside when I didn't plate and and we won and we played great in doing that so even the coexisted we know we have coexisted part of the problems Kobe at least as far as your relationship with Shaquille O'Neal go back to your court case where it was revealed that you had suggested and I don't have a quote exactly that Shaquille O'Neal maybe has paid off women in the past when's the last time you talked to Shaq did you ever apologize for those statements you know I haven't had an opportunity to talk to him directly um but if I do get at that opportunity I definitely why not call me it's been months why not yeah I could try to I could try to track him down by you know I don't have his number anything like that man I was able to get a message to him you know through a through a mutual friend but you know December 25th sounds like a good day to me to kind of talk to him and tell him I never I never meant any kind of way to bring you know this anything of his personal business outside like like this Kobe are you fearful that Shaq will not want to talk to you no I'm not feel fearful of it I mean I can only do what I what I feel is right you know what I mean no I feel it's right to go up and apologize to the man for for for bringing a mentor to my situation you know I never intended for that to happen and you know things were way overblown and and misstated why did you bring up his name though Kobe why even go there you know I can't really get into the details of it all I can say these things were you know they it kind of took something ran with it and it took a someplace completely you know different than what it actually was well let me ask you this question one of the things that Shaq would say and I and I know him pretty well is that Shaq would say he's not hard to find if you really really wanted to find him over the last six months or so it should have been relatively easy to find him how do you respond to that well I respond to that is you know you probably got his number I get it from you and I call him today really that supplement you know I don't have time you know I I've been through too much my family now we've been through too much to sit up here and be yes and say oh I'm not gonna I'm calling but I really don't mean it and all sort of stuff been through too much for all that you know I seriously sincerely mean I will pick up the phone and call him if he takes the call great if he doesn't you know what I mean it just you know just just know I'm sorry for all of that Kobe Bryant called you on your cell phone right now what would you say to him I don't have a cell phone because people that I'm connected with them connected with him what you got to do is think and I'll call you I don't have a cell phone and that's a problem with the diesel I'm technologically more advanced than you are my thought process begins with regular human APICS is that but is this maybe about control and almost if Jerry Krause was not here next year or in Chicago would you would that affect your decision to want to stay there oh definitely I think there's no doubt about the fact that you know that you know you look back on the relationship that the Jerry West and Pat Riley had with Los Angeles I mean you know those things and that ended after about nine years Chuck Daly McCloskey at Detroit you know that was a great relationship and both of them went on after about nine years and when different directions and I'm not saying that all marriages in this kind of a business is general manager coach's business doesn't have that lifespan but it seems to me like that is you know that's pretty much pushing the envelope Michael Jordan said coach that if you aren't in Chicago he will retire and then now that you said hey this this is your last year do you think he's going to stick to that position well in some ways I hope not I think that you know Michael should determine whether his own career is over of whether mine is with the Bulls or not for the new millennium the Lakers moved to a new home but it was a new coach that heralded a bigger change and a future more in tune with the traditions of the Lakers past without further ado the new coach to the Los Angeles Lakers Phil Jackson [Music] bill Jackson had won six NBA championships as coach of the Chicago Bulls but his impressive resume came with doubts that his unorthodox style would mesh with the Lakers youthful stars Randy Yazzie published just pivot were like but I even have it a basketball run they'll set a pig and spin pivot go stop changing the race like wheat without a basketball they practice layups without a bath swig Jackson's first challenge was to get his new players to understand him then he still had to get them to unite behind him there was a kind of a Colby faction on one side she'd kill a faction on the other and we had to bring these guys together there were some personal goals that were standing in front of the group goals and that all had to be kind of figured out it was a situation in which the I was asking them to kind of fit into roles and demanded the team to play more unselfish basketball first time my career coach came in and said look this is what you're gonna do this or what you're gonna master if you're not gonna do that then you're not gonna be here during the preseason any early optimism appeared hopelessly misplaced to make matters worse Kobe Bryant broke his hand and would miss eight weeks the season would begin with little reason for hope and even less reason to believe when Kobe returned from injury the Lakers 21 year old star also seemed more mature instantly adapting to the new team first approached when a first Innisfil salesforce is not how hard you play because you can play harder hard you went this house possibly it was vintage Laker basketball as Kobe and Shaq came together like magic shacked up them the combo Nicole becomes first with the jab and then you follow Whitney's and knockout [Music] great execution by Shack or the chef humble Jack may be fatherhood Colby [Applause] [Music] the players but it wasn't just the combo it was the constant flow of a ball that lifted the Lakers the infinite combination is possible when five players play as one we felt at that time there's no one better in the NBA and we just took off like that like uh like a bottle rocket [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] take a look at O'Neal fishing on foot Kobe Bryant on rooks who started an IV it's jump on this poster [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] let's ISM all the way to the rack what you spin [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] he's syphilis it's after having six in the first half he picks up his first [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] the Lakers basketball Network in the first round of the playoffs the Lakers regular season confidence carried over but against the backdrop of their past failures they were all too aware of the hazards of postseason play we knew they were going to be some tests and we know being the best team in a regular season to test we won't be very off we need every team wanted to make history about being us we do that every team was going to be up for us [Applause] Coby spins in left a slight side [Applause] [Music] right now for the Lakers Oh so visa lose at home and just have a vacation we feel good baby we drove back to LA and the Lakers faced adversity for the first time in a playoffs [Applause] they failed dramatically in this first test so now you know the pressures there did we win on our home court with nothing in their experience as a team to fall back on the Lakers only had their trust in each other two click [Applause] [Music] I think every name - we had a little bit more confidence every to pull in the game out we could pull it out of any situation affect the city's been waiting for this moment just like I've been waiting for this moment you know we have opportunity to do something that hasn't been done years so I'm sure the city is a very pleasant good evening to you from the beautiful Staples Center in Los Angeles California tonight the real season begins the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers vying for the NBA championship of 1999-2000 get that ring it's the Hoosiers against Hollywood the Lakers are matched against one of their old rivals Larry Bird this is the ultimate this is words and just looking up seeing the NBA Finals banished and don't see any files on the floor and be if I was 2020 jerseys you know it's a great feeling it kind of feels like you're just drinking it really [Applause] are just about set to begin let's see how the Lakers match up against the Pacers Millers aren't Bryant the baseline here's his turn around to [Applause] and now Harper looking for Shaq you cannot let him [Applause] Kobe Bryant [Applause] athletes back there changing shots this is right to the basket for Sophie Miller against Harper back to the baseline the honey what happened Koby pulls up [Applause] late in the fourth quarter of in game seven on Sunday against four I was telling all night drop it off drop it off so that play you know who's coming to the lane after you cross Scottie helping we caught her eye contact and you just do it up where I live I felt like we put our stamp and we made our mark early because you know other players around illegal watching and they saw what took place you know they know me and she I have a connection and I think the thing that people fear the most of the curve [Music] 18 points for Rick Smiths [Applause] eighteen minutes on the floor [Applause] defenders mark Jackson's gotta stepped in there and trap him and force him to kick be numbers [Applause] shaking two-point basket he was just inside the line the lake this kid now Mark Jackson is in playing shoot free-throws offensive rebounds [Applause] short from being right in the center of the basket the Lakers prevail and Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal were unbelievable when they needed to be tonight Kobe had 28 eight of them in overtime here he is with him on all right thanks Bob Kobe while Indiana kept talking about this being the most important game of the entire season you guys were thinking the same thing in your locker room well in our mind this is the championship so we came out play well for Anu they're gonna come out with a lot of energy you just want to keep it close and make it nice little work now going down the stretch jack goes down all of a sudden you step but these are the kind of moments that you look for there there was a fire fouled out my ma state was no this game just became awful awful lot more interesting but it was and it was just fun for me you know I laughed about it just when I play relax as if I was in the backyard now tell me about the NBA go enjoy I know that's something that's been bothering you at halftime you told me it was hurting your life [Applause] swing it's a Kobe for trade [Applause] they'd let him double team scores anyway [Applause] everything the jumper plate will it be robbery no he gives it up to you he went to one point I think that's a good news though you've got it going right now with Mark Jackson stay with what's working O'Neill he's got 10 3 right now the place is clean [Applause] especially if it's a 30 [Applause] [Applause] he's not shot the ball well that is why he's down look at these very dumb place to go the ball knocked loose picks it up on the ribs the concentration the opportunity [Music] and berries see tougher to give them a six-point lead the lake fans are tasting it they're getting close to the championship [Music] [Applause] you can do sigma3 the faultless in the year right now for being the champions if he misses the boat the patients have a timeout left [Applause] tomorrow in seconds [Applause] struggling to the last last time Jackson look in the throne and again Shaq Reggie turns and pumps it up in me [Applause] magic and Larry Koby the other night you had a dream it came through the night you worked so hard it was a hard-fought game we finally got a championship it feels great for 21 years you said you going dream the winner Jim Jim is it what you dreamed up on everything you're more but you have to the regular colors fall upon the ceiling fans going crazy I got the hat on and everything covering my fro [Applause] the one thing that really got you guys over the line there really pushed you to this point what would have been this thing it's just determination you know PJ did an excellent job him in his coaching staff and you know Shaq was marvelous all season long and I bet he's great he's just pulled it all together in a game like tonight where to break down the defense that's what you have to do you know just had to break them down that's all I'll just create similar to the game for situation I'll just better train train get into the gas robin or made some big shots box to the big three and we won again No love it [Applause] [Music] the next one right here syphilis we work all year long for me Shaq the man whose dominant way in the world championship was going through we went through this year the barn every formed one another for all the adversity all the struggles that we went through we had a chance where we could cave in instead we decided to pull together and come honest and stronger than we were a communitarian we created as a world made food we joke around with each other laugh at each other we stick up in June 2000 the Lakers conquered the NBA powered by the fusion of the games two brightest stars together they seem to make the Lakers unbeatable at 28 Shaquille O'Neal was the league's MVP and at 21 Kobe Bryant was fast becoming the league's best all-around player it wasn't just about winning a championship those about creating a dynasty and creating something that you know other teams can't really even speak about obviously the boys were able to do it in the 90s and the Lakers and 80s and Celtics in the 60s but there's a new time it's a new millennium and we wanted to be the basketball team in the basketball organization to kind of start the NBA legacies over but after the celebration the Lakers would learn that being a champion demands more from a team than just winning a championship the 2001 Lakers arrived at training camp as a changed team the roster had a new look Horace Grant supplanted Laker veteran AC green of power forward and in a move considered risky for team chemistry the erratic Isaiah rider was signed to replace Glen Rice the team's third leading scorer during 2001 of the Lakers inspirational leaders Derrick Fisher was lost to injury but the most important change was the loss of harmony between Shaq and Kobe who came to training camp with the same goal but opposite visions of how to achieve it Shaq had had a told that you'll really take it easy this has been a long season you put a lot of energy and he put a lot of minutes on the floor your body needs to really heal and you know don't worry about working out come back in September and start getting ready for the year and he did he came back on September 28th and started getting ready for the year instead of September 1st in Shaq's defense it was the first time he was champion and it was the first time he was able to relax once in his career and enjoy a basketball moment while the battle-weary veteran used the offseason to recharge his youthful teammate was working to fulfill his lofty personal goals but we never took one breath literally from the championship to the beginning of October end of September he'd been moving this game up he wanted to come on in an alley and everybody his goals were set much higher than one championship much higher than the level of play he he played that dear before when the season started it was clear that Kobe would no longer be satisfied to be known as a supreme talent he wouldn't rest until he was known as the best player in the league what of Steel [Applause] he says they're not going to stop me you can't even contain me that is where you do the comparisons with Jordan Kobe Bryant no one in the league playing better but Kobe's personal ascent seemed to leave his teammates flat the delicate chemistry achieved during the Lakers championship run was lost and no one took the change to heart more than Shaquille O'Neal I think Shaq struggled with the fact that Kobe came back so determined and so hungry to show that he had grown as an individual player Kobe was just you know just trying to do too much and you know when you're that good you can do too much but when you play on the team you shouldn't have to be that on the team's problems came to a head when Kobe exploded for 51 points at Golden State but failed to produce a win Coffee has become a one-man arsenal it was trying to to help us win so desperately any gun so many points he puts it's a brilliant game and carried it just a one step or two too far we shot a couple air balls down the stretch and kind of exacerbated the situation where you're in then you know he was trying to win it all by himself a lot of nights people wanted me to just kind of level off my plate and I improve and just do the same thing I did last year and I'm not gonna do it and I worked through I improve as a basketball player every day and I want to show that I'm proof I've never been the one to get into most team it is who was this and who's that but when it was when everything went through me the outcome was good it was 67 to 15 playing with enthusiasm the city was jumping up and down and had a parade of Haven and now we're 23 and 11 so you figure it out but tension between the two superstars was destroying the fabric of the team the things going on against with Kobe and Shaq were well documented but there was too much focused put on that and I think you know for a lot of us as members of the team you know we kind of stepped back and also started paying attention to that a lot instead of really being held accountable for what we could do to help the team what had begun as a championship saga had become the league's leading soap opera so just like well they were going to figure it out come out on top I was just going into rock bottom you know loses either way there's nothing anybody could say or do to try to stop that from happening it was gonna be our decisions whether we want to pull through this adversity always going crushes the Lakers were out of answers and running low on hope after sixty games the return of Derek Fisher restored a sense of order on the court but it was something unexpected that made the Lakers rediscover their sense of purpose in late March an injury forced Kobe out of the lineup during his nine game absence the Lakers found themselves playing as a team and they were winning no one noticed more than Kobe during the period 10 that Kobe set out we had to change our style back to where Shaq had the dominant space on the floor and ones we've got to that we executed very well and I think that when Kobe came back it was really his impression that I'm gonna come back and I'm gonna make this transition into this team he made a conscious decision to trust his teammates more to be a playmaker underneath the baseline be [Applause] selfish play by coffee being a great player ain't about scoring 40 everything dump it on somebody every night doing this doing it it's not about that's about making everybody else but [Music] [Applause] once they got in the same page just like everyone filed a new one just jumped on and we just glued and jail together with Kobe back the Lakers were reborn as the team they had been trying to become all along a ruthless way to put it while the apps absolutely want to cut their hearts out absolutely through six playoff games Kobe had bottled up his game for the good of the team in Game four in Sacramento he finally exploded trakula shot by with shock and foul trouble Coby knew it was time to demand the ball himself as the Kobe one-on-one and Christy isolated right side elevate shoots now the puck and he's fouled ready tells the crowd of lush Reena have a good crowd of there the crowd gets involved in the game and like to talk trash so I started drawing back and started jawing with some of the players and found a groove by doing it to sweep the king [Applause] Vlade Divac brian with it angles to the baseline drop steps been betrayed two defenders and he sends in on my say shot [Applause] the Lakers were chasing history and chasing away their demons 7 and Oh in the playoffs a perfect run of 15 looking less like a fantasy with every win I think right now we have a certain swagger about ourselves because we're the defending champions in one a 15 game winning streak right now so I think there's naturally more confidence you know feel like we can pull out of any situation the Conference Finals would be the Lakers chance to erase a bitter playoff memory in 1999 the San Antonio Spurs had humiliated the Lakers in the final games ever played at the Forum the Spurs felt the Lakers 2000 title was tainted because Tim Duncan hadn't been healthy and with Duncan back they had the league's best record in 2001 he if you asked me is there bad blood no question they're not our favorite team and we're not their favorite team the San Antonio was a team when they won they embarrassed us and I swept off so Kobe either in his month I had that in my mind no longer concerned with proving who was the best individual the Lakers set out to prove they were the best team [Applause] Salinger sorry it counts in Game one Kobe carried the load [Applause] defender with every defensive adjustment the Spurs made Kobe countered with another level of creativity beautiful fingertip Kobe's got this intensive competitive drive and he doesn't back down he always lost those challenges [Applause] [Applause] impossible indefensible Kobe had scored in 93 points him back-to-back road victories I told Cole today he was my idol his plan mom I'm sorry playing phenomenal you know I don't know what else to say I think he's the best player in the league by far two seasons earlier Tim Duncan was making that same claim and in Game two he tried to make the case again now Duncan hasn't left the lane against grant to the big slide gets inside it lights ahead to Duncan [Music] and the Alamo [Music] the Lakers were being outplayed for the first time in the 2001 playoffs and for the first time they looked ruffled [Applause] everything seemed to be going against us in that game Phil Guinea ejected San Antonio was playing on top of their game hitting all the shots crowd was behind it was like 36,000 people but our leader had just been exiled from the game and we felt even more challenged to go out and to finish the Spurs off in that second game although they hadn't brought their best game with them the Lakers reduced the contest to a battle of wills with increasing determination and confidence they hammered away at the Spurs lead after Jackson's ejection the Lakers went on a 9-2 run the players had sensed their own peril and the lessons of a long season helped them to fight their way out of danger [Applause] you can see the visible increased intensity of the Lakers who doesn't want to come back they showed them that way to chance we deserve to be the champs and this is why we deserve beat a Shaq comes outside to Brian he's hoping he shoots for three brilliant connecting they have dealt severe and perhaps fatal ball to the Spurs championship hubs man in the Eastern Conference the Philadelphia 76ers had taken everybody's best shot all season long and were the last team standing in the end like the Lakers they had flowered during the season as a team and in the playoffs league MVP Allen Iverson had captivated the basketball world [Applause] [Music] in winning the East Ireson proved himself to be more than a scorer he had become a leader and had his team believing they could become champions [Music] I said they were wearing him down he's getting tired right so we should not be able to make that time to show a good job but Lewis done a great job of helping his teammates 96 20 Oh the Sixers Oh for the suffocation [Music] these kids left mark the biggest question is gonna be the Lakers one respond to this they're almost invincible they look like you said walls through the playoffs nobody is to death or psyche well tonight the Sixers come in the Laker I think they're gonna have tremendous energy and I think what you're gonna see is what we saw in Game one against San Antonio may be a lot of screen roll look making the tub up showing up sitting Kobe to the basket or Kobe running down to that post and trying to post up here in the key is so I'm told feeling much better far yes coffee with two minutes and gig one will not stop keep shooting because his teammates expect those shots we'll go things that fall off the back of the round the short jumper landed [Applause] I think in that triangle hundreds of these players I feel very familiar where the teams are coming [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] now some generators now for it this is the patients that bill Jackson want to Kobe Bryant survey the floor penetrate fine Shack and that is a very very high percentage shot but again told the defense bringing to you the handy here now at quick surgery jugglery here's my cursor will the shot clock [Applause] the 76ers I've gotta get back Kobe you guys have not been in a must-win situation in an awful long time are you guys sensing the urgency feels good it feels good you see your mungus challenge they're so competitive and they playing so hard but it feels good to be tested I think there was a certain stretch there were we're overly aggressive I think our motions got the best of us but we're able to settle back in the game and start executing our office it puts them right to the break copito to me right now a lot of talking going on there right now I think you're gonna see the referee step in and separate the two players a lot of emotion and passion [Applause] exchange of trash-talking an Allen Iverson was telling the official riot started what happened first of all with Allen Iverson right there at the end of the game for the conversation that's all two competitors talking it looks too friendly I'm going to hear the battle that spring choppy let me ask you you guys built up the big lead and the 76ers just would not go away you said you liked the challenge but did you get concerned down the stretch no but we got away from my execution we didn't do the things that got us to that point and we said every group in the next two offices it's your game the other night in Game one [Music] when you did tonight to bounce back no I wasn't thinking about getting one at all I just want to come back play hard you know trying to help my team in any way possible and found able to put some positive date tonight about going back to Philadelphia you're all homeless I don't really care that's what around me you know trying to do what it takes to win a ballgame all right Kobe congratulations through the tour to see you in Philadelphia all right thank you very much Marv Kobe 20 points you're on fire there in the second quarter what's it like to be in the zone like that well you know he's getting the rhythm and let's he makes it excellent job finding me coming over screens and Bassem easy looks copy is the confidence and the swagger coming back after the long layoff that was just saying we just found our rhythm again you don't have to have a nine days off there's stuff to come back and then you have your rhythm but we're starting to find the flow of the game again all right copy good luck in the second half thank you my beloved the road to see what happens to the second half back to you yes he does Carly with 16 of his 20 points in the second quarter [Applause] lady Jean 22 parts [Applause] five Shaquille O'Neal [Applause] yes a tional block by Kobe Bryant writers say one out of three question his blue on the Lakers wants the basketball right now other than cold enforce Kobe to trying to do everything here Mars and coffee to for his last 15 being defended by Russia bow clock Koby you struggled a bit in the second half three for sixteen but you made a big big shot down the stretch yeah well you know that's what we teammates before man it really stepped up here Robert came in as an excellent job he did you mug your shout for us you know you know we're able to come out here with a win you're 10 of 16 in the first half how did you have the confidence because when Shaq went out you told your teammates I want the ball and then you made that big basket well you know my ladies got so tired you know you know I just pretty much started coasted a little bit that my teammates carried a burden and know when it came down for a pressure situation I was trying to save my legs for that moment and work out well then you saved your legs tell us about the big defensive stuff that you add on Iverson right down there at the end when he go for the basket well you're not saw I'm coming so no usually that's his specialty you guys get in their lane and shoot those little floaters and know I had a little help from long arm right behind me he said this was a must-win so you got it we got it all right we'll see you next game you were just one assist away from a triple double but the Sixers made a heck of a run again you said at halftime you can't go for the jugular why not with this group to keep on fighting and they score in bunches so you know it's important for us that you remain poised when they make their run and continue to do what we do it seemed as though the offense was in sync tonight but can you talk about the great disparity and threes you guys I think you've made nine more than the 76ers that we did say that again I love you Kobe well we did we just threw the ball in a shack and let them double-team and know when they collapsed their defense we just kick it out to our shooters and everybody was making shots no team has ever come back Shaq from the three games to one deficit this series over plus you know we're just focusing on one more win but in this situation I should we had a lot of scary moments this year we wanted to just come and take everything all the time we let one game super we're so fuss is just focusing on getting one away and we want to have our Father have you learned a lesson from what happened last year in Indiana you had a a great game and then you guys came out and lost by 30 points on the next attempt I don't think we learned the lesson I think it was a learning experience for us and you know for us was just one more win you loved him as well all right right back at home man right back here a love fest who would have ever thought that back to you Marv six ladies what a spectacular play Barbie funded a ball but if work was Brody's here to hit that shot alright thank you very much Marv I spoke to Kobe Bryant he said that the team played their worst half in the final since the first map of Game one he said were still up for at the half he said we didn't shoot very well only 38% we're still up at 4:00 he says we got to keep our heads together let's not allow the emotion of the building in the 76ers to take over and we need to keep them off the offensive boards I'm very happy with our position considering the way we play Thomas this means to then winning the series here in his hometown pull it up he grew up in the suburbs Lower Merion as you know a one-time member of the Philadelphia 76ers he literally grew up across the way in the hallways we're over Schuester [Music] and Kobe Bryant beginning to feel it Gina water history [Applause] a great game right now any predictions for next year I will wait till October all right we have Kobe Bryant back in Kobe congratulations for a second time what's it like to finally achieve this dream here in Philadelphia is something you had wanted your entire life in your home city it was nice to come back to Philadelphia and play in a place where I'll hold my competitive skills and not kid I jump around like the city of Philadelphia Forest gonna be an L a boy to stand out there but it was fun to come back to Philly and play for the championship you're 22 years old you've won two at least does this mean more than the first one the first one is always it's always very special because you've proven to people that you can do it the second one it's like you're proving that it's not a it's not a fluke you know the series against San Antonio two champions going head up and went in back-to-back definitely feels great considering everything that you have been through this year Kobe do you consider this some form of a relief and did you almost have your spirit broken at your lowest point well I have so much going on outside of the game that's why people didn't know about it just felt good to pull it to pull through this season I don't do what another championship it you know definitely feels good can you tell us what some of that was now are you willing to discuss it no not really a matter it was hard but you know that's just is no progress when you went out for 11 games did that give you an opportunity to gather yourself and to come back with a different focus and and to try and put everything that had gone on in front of you behind you well I think having time off really helped me put things in perspective in the find I was important in my life no basketball yes you know it's a big part of my life but it's not a thing and I was able to focus on the game a lot of credit goes to my wife not only putting up with but supporting my work ethic you know because I work all day consistently and she supported me and a lot of credit goes there a final thought jerry west and always meant an awful lot to you he's not a part of the celebration how instrumental was he and patching things up with you in check well Jay was just his inspiration period he's NBA logo for crying out loud but no Jay he's always been there for me from day one so we had a conversation during the season and he hope help me put things in perspective you know from the game standpoint and Shaq and I patched things up and went out then you know what another title Kobe congratulations we appreciate your time great year thank you celebrating that absolutely go get some celebration we're gonna have a lot more coming up here from the first Union Center the Los Angeles Lakers have now won back-to-back championships their 13th championship overall we'll be back congratulations to you you now become the youngest man at 23 to win three titles how does that grab you what does that represent you that's uh no it's a blessing I've been blessed I've been fortunate to play with a great organization may be the youngest player ever to win three that's you know it's an incredible accomplishment did you have a feeling when you beat the Sacramento Kings that you guys had won the championship no no the feeling that we had you know we had a lot of momentum obviously we were starting to play well together offensively and defensively we felt like we're going to find us with a lot of momentum how is it that you managed in the fourth quarter to kind of turn things on that you kind of glided at least in the first three quarters in this series in the fourth quarter you just were the man who closed the hatch I mean you know the fourth quarter is uh you know many games on the line so even though you know I might not be shooting a ball you know pretty you know extremely well the fourth quarter I can turn it up a little bit and what about this guy right here the man who saved the season what are your thoughts about Robert Horry when he made that shot in Game four big shot Rob he knocks it down the game's in a line he caused his kickstand going you know you could count that's buckets he's not gonna miss that you wore the number 23 in here tonight representing Michael Jordan and your jersey parade why you can't have a collection of jerseys and not have MJ in it I don't make any sense Kobe thank you for all your cooperation congratulations you got cold destroy placing gently through my body burn so sweet blood boils when you speak makes me weak but I refuse to eat yet when I sleep I feel tears trickling down my cheek stay strong cry telling me move on my heart's fight him forcing me the whole dawn yours forever [Music] those that don't know yes I had a budding music career as a rapper it didn't last long but I did make a video and on the video set is where I first met Vanessa I wasn't some big-time basketball player at the time either so it was like you know it's a pleasure to meet you it was a two-day video shoot and I was always looking for like I wanted to know where she was you know I would finish the take and then go to my trailer but I wonder where she is the entire time and then come out of the trailer and just want to talk to her some more in between takes and stuff like that and she wrote a phone number down at the time when you had still write phone numbers now and I called it a very next day and we talked for hours which is beautiful we literally did everything together everything together and I thought I was a big dork because I loved I loved Disneyland I loved the Disney movies and things like that but I never really had a chance to go to the park much and she was a big Disney fan too and we used to hang out at Disneyland we used to go to Magic Mountain she became my best friend you know and for me it was very different to have somebody that I was so close to because I been so used to growing up in an isolation really and moving around from place to place and making new friends all the time so I never really opened up to anybody because I knew I was just gonna inevitably move but now you know being in Los Angeles and feeling like I'm gonna be a Laker for the rest of my life and I just met this beautiful woman that I just see the world the same way with we decided to get married I proposed she said yes we're both so young right so I'd wake up and I go train and I come back and she still be the bed sleeping like 18 year-olds do - if you sleep - like 12:00 1:00 o'clock and afternoon man and then I lay down with and I go to sleep again - and then you know we wake up and just do what kids do do what kids do I take it to the batting cage go hit some balls like and we play miniature golf go see movies we go out to eat it was just it was a beautiful time man we had Natalia it was like such a beautiful moment you starting a home family I found so much enjoyment and just being with our baby girl no it was great and you putting together the nursery and the crib all those weird benign Stein baby Mozart videos where he kind of just hypnotizing your kid it I went through all of it oh all that stuff [Music] you're gone you really have a tendency to think about your own personal journey and for us is about taking two young people and trying to figure out our journey together and try to grow together which is a challenge but when you have a kid then it becomes even bigger than that because now you're a responsibility of this little life shefte Molk it may be hard for him to complain he has a 71 million dollar contract with the Lakers plus millions more for advertising endorsements Madison Avenue loves his winning personality and even found a way to put his fluent Italian to you wasted on me at Gaza oh this has made him one of the highest-paid 22 year olds in the world recently he bought a new toy all he wanted for our room since I was a little kid and I was kind of opportunity to kind of splurge it's a Ferrari Modena this is how he commutes to the Laker training facility in LA Kobe Bryant lived with his parents until last year about the time he became engaged to Vanessa Lane they met two years ago when she was only 17 you start introducing yourself and and you know she turned at a point so there's tons around excuse me whooshing there Vanessa you know she got my eyes got real big and it's just like there was no one before her I mean what you would have thought to have been 15 before Vanessa know was it the fact that you've been waiting for the right one or she's is it Jesus the one they got married just a few weeks ago as the playoffs were starting now he and the Lakers of both playing their best basketball of the season and seemed destined for another NBA championship if so it will be a championship fueled not just by strategy or by star power but also by a 22 year old single-minded love of the game I'm very very fortunate to be in this position you're playing the sport you love I love you perhaps the hooli loved it just two years after this piece first aired a 19 year old hotel employee in Colorado accused Kobe Bryant of rape he admitted having sex with a woman but insisted it was consensual in the summer of 2004 the charges were dismissed after the alleged rape victim refused to testify she and Bryant reached an undisclosed settlement of a civil suit six months later but the charges in Kobe's response to them became an issue for the Lakers as the team struggled to handle their golden boy turned liability the media frenzy heightened tensions that had always existed between Kobe and his teammate and coach superstar Shaquille O'Neal and between Kobe and his Zen but outspoken coach Phil Jackson [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] I'm innocent I never force her to do anything gesture will I'm innocent No [Music] sit here funny you guys [Music] furious at myself [Music] suss it up myself [Music] we're making a mistake adultery [Music] [Music] I love my wife with all my heart [Music] she's backbone [Music] your blessing [Music] their beats in my heart today I breathe you're a strong person I know I'm so sorry I have an appointment through this and they put my family fetus [Music] I'm a human being I'm a man just like everybody else [Music] I'm bored [Music] I cry [Music] just like everybody else [Music] I say here before you guys embarrassed and ashamed for committing adultery [Music] to go through the feeling of if I could just turn back the hands of time [Music] I love my wife so much [Music] well I'm innocent [Music] and together my wife and I my family we're gonna fight these false accusations [Music] we have a lot of fake highest H&S notches has nothing to do what to get basketball endorsements nothing at all about us this is about a family I possibly choose to something [Music] I'm innocent Oh shoulder we want to fight this always appreciate everybody out there for for your support we need to support prayers now more than ever [Music] [ __ ] they gotta win the middle three game something that no team has done at home since they went back to a 232 format in 85 there was actually a time in the mid when a home team won all three games in the middle it was the Pistons they are in Fort Wayne but of all crazy things they played those games in Indianapolis and people see refused Nationals and the last Turkey [Music] for the Detroit Pistons in motion Rick Fox ending the game hunched over congratulating them is the clock ticks down and then it looks list as well the 1b won the NBA championship in 89 and 90 and they the crazies just have to stop blowing up stuff and indoor building before we have a disaster Thank You commissioner that the Detroit Pistons have just shocked and watch these newest Lakers 187 to win the NBA the number-two seed in the Eastern Conference and for the Lakers it truly will be the end of a particular era living in an apartment back and forth they go for Kobe Bryant the biggest question watch of course for him yes if you take his career and you divide it up basically in the numbers that he wore yet to hall-of-fame careers so it's only right that you need to retire both numbers just an epic performance by Cobie plan Chloe Brian came into the NBA as a 17 year old kid but former Lakers general manager Jerry West said he knew from the moment he saw him work out that Kobe was special for the next 10 years west watch proudly as a kid wearing number eight grew into a champion number eight was just he was a lot more explosive and athletic when he went to the basket to try to dump him he's trying to embarrass you Kobe and Shaq won three titles together and it's hard not to wonder how many more they could have won with each other but the Lakers felt like they had to choose between them after the 2004 season and owner dr. Jerry Buss at Kobe two years later called we made another change the Lakers have notified the league Bryan will wear 20 for next year great players do that all the time they want to reach alledged ourselves and I think for him was just changing numbers you just trying to wash away everything that he did remember eight and see if he can duplicate it with number 24 there were different situations different teammates his role was different and he continued to reinvent himself that's what all-time greats tend to find a way to do [Music] [Applause] 24:00 was more of a thinker I got I played chess while other people playing checkers out there I just saw a much more mellow Kobe it was the first time I really seen him smile on the basketball court as much as he did and I think he enjoyed that I once asked Kobe which number he preferred the Lakers to retire 8 or 24 he paused for a minute and smiled and said whichever number they choose it would be hard for someone else to weigh the other one Kobe doing it the way Cody doesn't I wouldn't put it past Kobe Bryant that he was thinking I'm gonna play 10 more years on the plane than the 24 my have pretty much identical numbers that I had in a break and they're gonna probably have to retire both girls that's the type of guy he is one more of his being that more than ever as with another championship for Kobe Bryant animistic fourth title is once again within his grasp and for Dwight Howard the first step on to his sports the most prominent stage magic Lakers game 1 of the NBA Finals is next on ABC everything is on the line you want to kill each other because you never know what could happen stand the other garden number 24 6 6 13 season out of Laura Marion High School Kobe Bryant 6 in the Denver series [Music] Dragutin size pop shot gets it to go again this is just simple basketball size advantage Brian in the post over Courtney Lee and the help defense Lakers six all run Michael Jackson likes it beat by 39 at the new Boston Garden walking off the floor with green confetti falling on top of them as the Celtics celebrated such a disappointing loss they were questioned about their toughest we asked Kobe Bryant are they different this year or talkative much tougher tale tougher mentally tougher physically anywhere you know the series that we've had with Utah you sit in Denver those are three very physical teams tough teams and you know we had to overcome adversity and particularly that you see in Denver series and we managed to do them right on top of them we closed it down like you saw Kobe Bryant yesterday he is as serious as we've seen of all season right now another pick-and-roll good content by Beatrice Tenno run by the Lakers Kobe the last six Kobe Bryant deflectors by Nelson Brian gets it right back falling away tough shot but today and I wanna chakracore Lee Ryan so you should be in timeout right away you make a shot like that you have to go to the silence Brian pulls up again call me by with 16 little dream shake right there great content by Pinterest better offense by Brian this guy you put him in pick and road to solve that's a difficult difficult cover want to be trapped let me dance wall one with the small lead to the first half before he picked up his third foul Brian top shot bastard might be out of one of those nights he's got 22 already Kobe Bryant 26 for Kobe Bryant and a chance for a three-point play well a very good screen by Gasol very good use of the screen by Bryant hips to his right hand and you couldn't see the foul there where he clipped his leg but again the play by Dwight Howard is the right play to me the magic need to cut a little bit more the sole put under a beautiful adjustment and they're on their feet at the Staples Center as the Lakers Kobe Bryant on the drive gets to the basket the shot clock expires he's got 29 and the Lakers back up by 18 [Music] and he has five rebounds as well rise again he's got that look he's got that game couple of pics cockatoos got to put it over rise the packet just so out of foul Kobe Bryant brilliant here in the third quarter and the Lakers up by 22 [Applause] incredible on the offensive end good defense just better offense the ability to take the hit create your own shot a thing of beauty playing putting on a 20 the man they call the closer not waiting till the fourth quarter to do his damage watch the tears at night an endless day it's working whatever it is doors on a mission getting guys involved and then turn back time talking to guys on the bench excited after place attitude the approach that mentality became convinced the basketball to the point got no charge hands it off to Kobe Bryant outstanding job of running the fast-break take notes Orlando Magic defeated over Courtney Lee league got very good defense Bryant just remarkably skilled to jump shots and then the well-executed fast-break off the magic turnover Lando leads Ryan Pitts a three and just like that it's down to seventh I think the fingers okay can keep you when he finalists just picked up his fifth foul Odom has 5,000 pulls up shotgun and a Lakers back up by 328 for Kobe Bryant leaves it for the toad short rubout take a nice fish to push spinning in the lane back for the solemn Freddy's pass back to a three-point game and the critical part was Beatriz jogging back outstanding job of getting his early and making play to talk about scoring we all know that he has the ability to do this anytime he wants but down the stretch he making plays to drop off the PAL kosoul cuts it from 5 to 3 and then double-team a willing passer finds up a spot a long time for this moment you know I'm ready to to do it you know I want to wait um you know anything can happen and injuries things of that nature so you really just got a you know yeah the opportunity to try to see what we Brian look at this stop the bleeding hand down man down Turk the book pays the price as client knocks down a dagger 3 there's a lot of players head don't even get to the NBA Finals in a career it's my sixth time here and before stood up to win three so far this means I've been very lucky [Music] anybody's watch the ball season long as resilient Athena's we've seen Ryan on the drive bankers good a number of Laker fans that appear throughout the arena ready to celebrate a championship there's the final seconds as the buzzer sounds it's official the Lakers are NBA champions once again la wins the 2009 NBA China [Applause] those two candidly at the same time two rookies with the LA Lakers Kobe Bryant [Applause] [Music] [Music] congratulations Kobe Bryant your fourth NBA championship you go back to a year ago this time the Boston Celtics beat you all what was your focus from that moment to this moment well we knew we had to become a better defensive team consistently better defensively better on the boards you know that's that series last year taught us and we came back this year with every new focus everybody critics fans the media we've all speculated why this title means something different than the other three we don't want to speculate anymore why well just for the challenge okay I mean it's so tough you know there to win championship they have to start over from scratch and we started over from scratch and you know here we are again and this really feels like a dream I'm anali it doesn't even feel real right now it's unbelievably with the minute 12 left you guys are up by 11 we saw you on the bench during a timeout and you were non your finger nails what were you thinking then I just can't wait for the clock to go down you know it's just waiting and waiting and waiting for the time to expires or we can say this moment can finally be here during this whole finals really during the whole playoff run we've seen with press conferences with very short clip answers you've had a scowl on your face what does winning this mean for you right now this means everything we really worked so hard as a group you know we sacrificed so much we put in so much time so much effort and you know just feels unbelievable with a game here with a group of guys that are like brothers to me and you know we can all enjoy this together how are you different as a man and a player that you were seven years ago the last time you want to championship I think you just get better you just grow as a person you grow as a man and you know you just try to figure out the best way to leave these guys I see you with your family how are you guys going to celebrate tonight well we'll probably let them have soda and we can you know spill some champagne around a little bit just a little bit congratulations Kobe Bryant and congratulation to the Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant's fourth NBA championship the Lakers 50 NBA championship as a franchise second all-time in NBA history let's throw it now back to Mike Green Mike all rights to it what a difference a year makes one year ago aged six and ambience as a 2008 2009 season comes to an end for the Los Angeles Lakers once again on top we'll be back right after this timeout [Music] Edgar six-six from Laura Marion High School number 24 [Applause] fifth championship ring down on Kobe Bryant down this town Lakers so far the post today he understood what the shot clock was that three seconds catches it and gets off a quick level [Applause] it's a good job by his not giving up the front position but fighting Brian look and say that's not a foul but you love the way that the scarf play is awful people instance what you've worked a good spot then it just behind because they're just too valuable when opening fires away Lola's here as a clinic as far as big guys a concern set a great screen there is no ball pressure he's delivering those passes to Ray Allen so he can put him they'll hurt himself on that plug Brian flips it up Oh [Applause] the turnover [Applause] inside Alan Price [Applause] away likes that straight away not even close mr. Ali up the fire [Applause] [Music] [Applause] here in the third quarter [Applause] sensing the moment holster dump what brian says not on my watch get it out of here take a look Chris Rock sitting right next to Kobe Bryant shooting the breeze funniest man in the world telling jokes and take a look at Kobe Bryant I don't even hear you I'm on a mission and I'm not knocking everybody else becomes volatile if I'm sitting there I would have said something to Chris Rock matter of fact coaches players everybody would assist on this guy is a different breed he's on a mission Brian's working hard again throughs ask - OH - OH - flips it up and in the post as the way through there's a three [Applause] Lakers pick game on [Applause] my client had passed puts up the three [Applause] feels the gallon this gets sloppy down to the final seconds for these injured great officials to still be on the floors and I say Segway is the way Brian so the basket lays it in [Applause] that's a 3-2 those dots a little tougher Kobe Bryant and a foul don't picks up his second personnel the bow still Celtic ball Tony Allen on Bryant but for the basket banks it in and a foul good aggressive move from Kobe Bryant he's got nine points and it's a double figure lead for LA here's wild shot there's over six pastor Bryant foresaw the finish it was kind of have like an out-of-body experience buzzer goes off folks in that moment has arrived can't believe it's actually wasting their gold boy that's a big-time tough shot getting up influencing him not one that should be labeled unfair because the diploid actually deepens and guys that's disheartened rise it again he's got that look five of six from down to three pointers in a game laughing in a regular season he had done they're either get out [Applause] was it made some news wave died but a minute remaining [Music] our chests that's a three [Applause] we'll go Gasol the rebound fix it back after praying to the basket now the [ __ ] car tada [Applause] regular season and even in the playoffs but he's come up with some huge performances go back to Seoul hits without the owner Oh repeat [Applause] the 2010 NBA champions [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] and the winner of the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP is none other than Kobe Bryant [Applause] [Applause] from one great champion to another Kobe Bryant your fifth NBA championship how does this one stand out for you more than one two three and four notice this is the sweetest you know it's we've been downplaying the whole series the rivalry between us in the selfish because you had to focus on what we had to do but we understood how bad to City one of them you know there's no question about it and this was by far sweetest because it's against them and because of the hardest one by far you said we've been downplaying it especially you were downplaying it in fact you even said I can't get involved in the Haight how do you not get involved in the Haight during the run and try not to try not to you know what tonight I got the best in this you know I was I wanted it so bad and sometimes you want something so bad it slips away from you and my guys picked me up I'm mad can't I can't say enough about the Spaniel but I got that guy's unbelievable just a hell of a player we wouldn't wander without it 15 rebounds what were you kareem out there or what well we just had to crash the boards you know whoever won the rebounding battle won he's gay so y'all just trying to make a point to get in there and grab as many as I could you've been involved so far in one of Phil Jackson's three three-peat you have a chance next year for your second his fourth what are you gonna say to him to try and convince him to come back oh you know he knows how bad I want him back he knows that I've told him that I've been openly blunt about it and told him how much I want him back and you know let's go for it again let's go for it again all right congratulations to Kobe Bryant his second NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award so I just want to again thank the entire Lakers organization for your service for the great joy that you have given the city of Los Angeles but also the incredible competition that your organization has graced the basketball court with for decades now if this season is anything like the last one I know that you guys had your sight on the NBA Finals so we might see you here before long but we are very grateful for your presence here today give them a big round of applause [Music] [Applause] now one last thing I was also told that mr. Brown here intends to win the dunk contest so so so so so we'll see how how that goes we're going to break down the podium we're going to get a formal picture is that right okay let's go [Applause] there he comes experience and that's what they're gonna need going into he returned the favor on that up it uses his left arm and gets rid of lugs play a little bit and then all of a sudden he's all alone behind the art it is not it's not like Myers up and knocks it down it's not like Monty McCutchen wasn't staring right at it although in their playoff clinching game against Minnesota outside Brian is starting to heat up he's made his last three from the field Brian a tacky fence line and he runs into a stone wall those two Cecile holding his left knee yeah hoping he just bumped knees but the way he's holding that thing in Lane did something that's just a bump of the me right now Kobe down and this is the entire season and he was fourth before since then though old for six as he has it spinning in trouble calling he's limping he's hurt Kobe's hurt and I don't know if he's going to be able to continue this might be that same me that he heard no this is the right foot the right leg Clarence is very slow coming back the other way Bryan in the lane put it up yeah and now all of a sudden that paint protection has gone awry here's Kobe going to the rivet storage in 93 going around the back spinning shooting story [Applause] another look at Coby behind the back and then a spin move into the middle nice little floater there little jumper I will let ya yeah but Steph Curry has the answer it seems every time every time Lake at the starting assignment he's gone 32 minutes call the play pink one cried from outside 107 104 three-point game five minutes left Kobe guarded by the Koby one on one isolated for the time seven all [Music] [Applause] their reserves falls down struggling he's gonna stay down there for a bit i massaged that left ankle a little bit Warriors are out of bowels Lakers nobody gets helped up nobody's coming down so Kobe Bryant can't not continue the crowd go straight to the locker room [Applause] don't ever question the heart the emotion the grip the tenacity and the other hoard for the final time number 24 [Applause] the II that's his life and that's where he's been scoring this year Oh turn back the puck there to bluff trevor booker and desperate to get to the basket and score Hey the basket down here you got to see the nice reaction and you know back in the day when he was a defender let's face it he was twelve times all-defense nine times on the first team now you like the reaction here because he gets double-teamed and he was pressured but he said you'd be like anxiously a way to email to find out where we're flying Kobe cover to other playing zone there's for the Lakers they like his talent he's got a lot of bounce a lot of energy every night he gets into stronghold going to the basketball and also enhances witness the go pick Toby up off the hook [Applause] there's here's your pick-and-roll right now was a picking step back you're gonna place left I'm going to get that jump now this is just Kobe at his best he knew that there was a potential shot by watch him come underneath so that the defender cannot go for the block shot great move getting everything that's loose mobi to four in a row for Brian to finance by getting in a sport where this is seeking Kobe for third I heard the 3 4 60 I'm just gonna keep you quiet over there a 40 40 games with a 120 second time for the first time since November of 2014 poby going out inside Jordan didn't do it against the goals riot here it's another thing 43 right if I Brian we've got the board they hit a head - Clarkson nice look up nice fast as this farewell season has gone many have been asked what was your Kobe moment what's your favorite holder just look the gander at all the images from the Lakers to Team USA the 81 point game in this bill against Toronto a decade ago the championships the parades the celebrations many people dislike slow be routed against him over the years because he came in and he wanted that adversarial relationship with the road fans but this year it has been hugs with the great players to the other teams on his farewell night double comes pitch to clarkson late shot clock Clarkson we have nine players from Brazil this year I think that would surprise a lot of 8:45 D'Angelo Russell for the Lakers all night long every time that he gets down into pays what's that Byron Scott has referred to him as he and Kobe have a very special unique bond Bryan gets to the basket and has got a seven points crowd here at Staples as Kobe comes to the line perhaps for the last time Hayward sizing up Larry Nance got to the basket and it knocked away in the hands of Kobe save against 50 here Bryant got one to the basket 50 point game in his farewell six point game so the Lakers are in this one down the stretch and there it is the first player to end his career with a 50-point games final minute 30 Brian from 14 has 53 [Applause] unbelievable stuff tonight you're getting excited with this 50 business all right Kofi's got the Lakers last chip riot for three [Applause] [Music] every last bit of him being left out here tonight he scored the Lakers last 13 he has 56 points [Applause] the stamina tonight the fact that he's been working so hard from half-court to the rim on so many Drive the fact that he is snow look at the back is off of the three rebound by Russell it have a chance the Lakers down one we'll go be give them one last gamer Bryant on the move with the jumper fifteen points [Applause] he has been great and on his final night it's one last glimpse of greatness for shizzle [Applause] 60 Utah will go up the floor with Heyward 13 seconds left they went on the drive layup no good rebound get to the hands of Kobe Bruce in ahead to Clarkson and Clarkson will cook it for point once ago timeout Utah [Applause] Kobe and Shaq together one more time in a moment of Laker Lord and Bryant will leave here [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] as you look around the building there are plenty of cheers also some tears some folks are misty-eyed emotional this moment Lyle's misses and the Lakers close out Kobe Bryant's career with a win and one of the great farewell performances in any sport at any time authored by one of the NBA's all-time greats Kobe Bryant 60 points 23 in the fourth quarter of his farewell game man you know it's uh I can't believe how fast 20 years went by me this is crazy this is absolutely crazy and you know to be standing here at center court with you guys my teammates behind me and appreciate knowledge you know the journey that we've been on you know we've been through our ups and been through our downs and I think the most important part is that we all stay together throughout you know I grew up I grew up a die-hard I mean a die-hard Laker fan diehard I mean I knew knew everything about every player that's ever played here so to be drafted and then traded to this organization and to spend 20 years here I mean you can't you can't write something better than this and I'm more proud I'm more proud of the fact that not about the championships for it about the down years because we didn't run we didn't run we played through all that stuff when we got our championships and we did it the right way and all I can do here is just thank you guys thank you guys for all the years of support thank you guys for all the motivation thank you for the inspiration and you know what's funny the thing that had me cracking up all night long with the fact that I go through 20 years of everybody screaming to pass the ball in the last night they're like no pass it [Applause] this has been it has been absolutely beautiful you guys can't believe it's come to an end you guys will always be in my heart and I sincerely sincerely appreciate it no words can describe how I feel about you guys and thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart huh god I love you guys and I love you guys my family too my family my wife Vanessa I build in Italian Gianna you know thank you guys for all your sacrifice you know for all hours I've spent in the gym working and training and Vanessa you hold them down the family the way that you have I can't there's no way that I could thank you enough for that so from the bottom of my heart thank you and what can I say mom our exclusive interview with number 24 Kobe Bryant one of the greatest basketball players of all time calling it quits at the end of the season ending an incredible 20-year career with the LA Lakers I went one-on-one with Kobe about his big decision it is the end of an era records shattered respective turn and now after 20 years and five NBA championships Kobe Bryant will say goodbye to his first love basketball everybody wants to know why now it's the right time there's no point in really believing it or dragging it out or saying well leave the door open in case I don't know if something may change I don't think this is something this is a decision that you can allow them to have outside influence dictate whether or not you can do the place must be decision that comes to nothing so once I knew this was it might as well say so how did you know this was it I try to have at least 15 minutes of still time I'm just kind of sitting my thoughts in the morning it was kind of meditating normally what happens with me is my mind would always drift to the game always then I found myself sitting in my mind when drift towards the game all the time anymore and that's why I start realizing you know what it's getting close it's getting close not just 20 years but 20 years with the same team the LA Lakers how important is that to you extremely thing to me I was such a huge Laker fan growing up I mean like a die-hard Laker fan I had magic posters you know magic t-shirts it was my dream to be a Los Angeles Laker and so you know to be here for 20 years and to get to know some of my mentors it's been a dream come true and the fans the the letter that you wrote you want it to speak to your fans first why well because I think it was important to know how much they've meant to me the letter itself still doesn't do it justice and how important they'd been how vital they've been in my career and I mean we grew up together and that's such a beautiful thing was it a slow process to get here or was it just one of those lights which went off and you said no it was a slow process and it was something that kind of evolved over the last three years you know would be kilise injury that really frightened me because I you know I was like my career to be over now it scared me what am I gonna do next then I trained hard came back the next season fractured my knee I trading the harder came back again tore my shoulder and it was just like oh my this is one thing after the next and so it was kind of a slow three-year process of kind of evolving to get to where I am the 17 time all-star calls himself his biggest critic and he admits this season is far from his best do you feel that you're being treated fairly this season being your last and all that you had done for the sport yeah I mean I wouldn't have it any other way you can't just sit around expecting everybody just as a gift crazed whole time you got to be able to take the good with the bad one of the most important things that I can share with the younger generation is to accept it all don't have any expectations or leaning on the line or positive reporting on your career or negative have you accomplished everything that you've wanted to on the court no no I wanted to eat Championships as a dreamy kid and growing up in Italy I want to eat y8 because magic had five Michael head SIG's and it's okay I'll win eight and had an opportunity to have seven and didn't work out you have talked about wanting to have your place in the history of this game top five players of all time who would those five players be and would you crack the starting five no I would never put myself in the starting five ever I'll put the people that I've actually learned the most from being Jordan Magic Bird Hakeem Olajuwon and Jerry was but when you see that hashtag goat by your name I think is fantastic you know I think it's great to be mentioned in the same breath as those players honestly to me that's everything we will sit and debate endlessly who would win in a one-on-one matchup to myself and MJ and we debate that to the cows come home so who would win no doubt he would win somehow would win some but those are the beasts that will go on forever although he said his goodbyes I had to ask are you really ready to let her go I am I am I am but the thing I'm carrying this with me no matter what you know what I mean but internally my love my passion everything that I've learned from it is always gonna be with me your first remembrance of when you felt that this was going to be your game first remembrance I would say I was actually eight years old painting league in Florence I was playing on the Julian team managed to score 61 points well hold on yeah eight years old and you score how many points ago V 61 my uncle always talking I father always told me said you know you can put points in the board I gotta do it shoot it you know it wanted to have the same type of feeling that he had and I didn't know what that feeling was I didn't have people change your name and asking for autographs all the time I was kind of curious to see what that feeling would feel like I wanted to experience that same type of emotion and I wanted to be better than my father usually kicked my butt all the time all the time at what point did you get him I was 14 no kidding what was the feeling like that I wanted to keep doing it and and his feeling he didn't want me to keep doing so you don't blame me yeah no kidding y'all stopped after that play my father says I was a little Italian boy that was the son of an NBA basketball player how'd that go over well one kid tried to challenge me and that just gave me an opportunity to just unleash hell on this poor kid because of all the frustration of moving into a new place and the isolation that comes with that at that moment I understood how much the game can be the place of venting it can be an outlet for me basketball was gonna be your armor absolutely Brian's bravado some said arrogance earned him more detractors when he turned pro at 17 Gold's Gym and 98 and lifting weights and I get a phone call it's Michael Jackson I'm the other one and kind of what the hell's going on somebody's playing Michael Jackson calling you at the age of 18 age of 18 he's a big basketball fan and I was starting to get flack for being an introvert and being so serious all the time about the game and he wanted the call gave me encouragement to say don't change for them you have to stay focused if you want to be one of the all-time greats you have to study the all-time greats you have to be obsessive about what you do and how you do it and the summertime I would just disappear because I'd be studying and be researching I'd be drinking wine the game Chicago won another championship how why how do we get to that level I'd like to introduce my friend the Black Mamba that was the birth of the Black Mamba all the creatures that you could have pulled for yourself why that one because they spoke to me the length of the snake the accuracy of the snake the temperament I step on the court that's me [Music] how's the traffic yeah I think that's the point right why do you have to want you to do this I hear a lot faster why does it matter why do you in your life started doing this Bryant says is where he'll achieve greatness in a new field storytelling he's lined his office with photos of his inspirations JK Rowling Walt Disney Steve Jobs and the composer John Williams how often you come here all done all the time sometimes I can't sleep now and just have something that's my brain I'll just come in here and talk in the morning myself and a lot of energy yeah it's nonstop brian says he's here reading and writing training for his new job I knew it a very early age that this date was coming so I started trying different things out because I was interested in he was always gravitating around story like what what did you sighs I wrote a great amount of commercials a lot of stuff that he would nicely actually write as well this year Kobe ink produced a campaign called Pharaoh villain in which we hear the home crowd chant its love for Bryant and the road crowd it's hate [Applause] the concept the words the message Bryant says they're all his he also says that he's just getting started that soon he'll be creating movies books even video games carrying it around I mean what in the hell have you been carrying around I'm still tripping about it I would think so you probably thought you were done winning awards right yeah man I hadn't won a championship in a really really long time so here we are yeah this is unbelievable it really is unbelievable you know you now have more Oscars than Shaq and Michael Jordan combined I have a little present for you it's anything I don't know if you'll use this but I want you to have this because I think this would be great this is for Oscar actually not for you [Music] [Applause] laughs or maybe you just want to change it out then put that right [Applause] [Music] [Applause] so were you guys going tonight huh I guess what I hear we're doing up jersey timepieces jerseys my first time back - no first time back watch the Lakers play get that hitch you know you're gonna get the itch [Music] it's a night over 20 years in the making as the Staples Center and Laker legends get ready to honor the greatest player this building has ever known tonight two numbers will be retired in honor of one man [Music] congrat the laser just like that 60 we never taken a [ __ ] slope in a minute somebody I get this very few players that ever stepped on the hardwood can match his accomplishments over the duration of Kobe Bryant's 20-year career he became an 18 time all-star and scored the third most points in NBA history while securing five unforgettable championships so it is with good reason that just 20 months after his retirement both of his iconic numbers will be raised to the rafters Laker fan Kobe fan dream come true back at staples center the excitement builds all day long as large crowds gather to visit Kobe land [Music] party preparations are in full swing its Staples Center and with good reason it's not every day that one of the greatest players of all time has his jersey raised to the rafters tonight for Kobe Bryant that feat will be doubly special and as he makes his way to a pregame celebration in his honor no detail is forgotten right down to the type of beef that shares his name and a number of friends have already gathered including a long list of Lakers he will never forget [Music] [Applause] it's fitting the celebration of him that the quality of people that admire him would actually take the time out of their schedules and it just takes you back [Music] a little bit going on [Music] I see what I saw what to do my brother man Coby has been like a big brother to me so you know when they told me the date I thought I might be there it's hard to say goodbye to one of the best players ever it's a legacy of hard work and legacy of beneficent dedication you know just one that you can be proud of Congrats thank you Congrats be friends this melons thank you suppose one man that's uh he's a guy that looked out for me I learned a lot from him I'm glad I witnessed history and I was able to play with him and so this epic special night is something I wouldn't miss so how you spin anytime now [Applause] [Music] No [Applause] [Music] pretty surreal moment to walk through that room by taking a trip down memory lane see all the players he should play with all the guys that have seen you grow up and to get to the place where we are now it's is awesome [Music] senior was Bill Russell that's doesn't get any better than that man to walk up to him you tell them thank you for everything they've done and you kind of get a chance to share old stories together feel extremely blessed [Music] [Applause] there is one more surprise in store for Kobe as one of his favorite artists takes to the stage for a performance he'll never forget I'm a fan of campus so I hear the song and I'm thinking it's just being played in the room and then my daughter proceeds so punched me because Kendrick Lamar's like 10 feet away and he's performing putting on basically a concert and Kendrick Lamar is not the only one who takes this stage in honor of Kovic [Music] you know I've grown with this Indian and vice versa she was a special bond that we share and playing over 20 years and going through all the ups and downs and the tough losses and amazing wins all led up to his moments / that he used to work he's been to the new office doesn't know anything about me playing basketball [Music] thanks but really I guess we have peace it's like get a chance to come back and say thank you to everyone and this night's really for them it's not for me surreal isn't it you need to be here this woman I can't believe it's here I can't be here right now with without the help of so many others what an atmosphere here at Staples Center tonight we celebrate 20 incredible years and all out of you are looking forward to half time to don't go anywhere when the second quarter is over [Music] Durant dribbling in the backcourt throw the ball up the floor summoned by a chicken electors for on to Kobe is the first player ever in NBA history to have two numbers retired by the same team [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] please walk-up liquors president of basketball operations Irvin Magic Johnson what's up later nation we're here to celebrate the greatest hoops ever war the purple and gold for 20 years he thrilled us he made us scratch our head what did we just see what did we just witness and he gave us five NBA championship let me see Kobe you gave us three and number eight and two and 24 we are so blessed to have had this man wear the purple and gold for 20 years and he was all about excellence he was driven his will to win was very very high and tonight we're able to put not just one of his jersey but both of his jerseys of high I hope that you recorded every game I hope that you're doing the same thing tonight because it will never ever be another Kobe Bryant who can remember when he scored 81 points it again and last but not least there would never be an athlete in his last performance to top this man's performance 60 points so before I turn the mic over to our owner Jeanie buss is two things I want to leave you with Kobe Jerry West called me the day that you worked out and he said Earvin I just witnessed the greatest workout I've ever seen in my entire life and Jerry you are absolutely right this man has turned out to be the greatest we've ever seen and the next thing Kobe is this brother we need you right now when I look into this audience there's all raise up people come together cheered you on for 20 years and this country needs to come together and you were able to bring us all together as a city in Los Angeles for 20 years so we thank you for that miss TV bus come on out please and Geney before you speak we have got to bring his closest friend my partner in crime out here to join us Rob the Lincoln you gotta come on out representing Kobe for all those years you gotta come on out we don't that genies do her thing right now [Music] [Applause] Koby we knew this day was gonna come and here we are I also know you well enough that the jerseys hanging up there was not your motivation but this is our tradition this is our ceremony but really what we're celebrating tonight is the journey that you took us on for those 20 years we are retiring both your numbers because if you separated each of the accomplishments under those numbers each of those players would qualify for the Hall of Fame I have the honor of representing all Laker fans here tonight and overwhelmingly they asked me to express their gratitude and their appreciation for all that you've done I am quoting some of them here Thank You Kobe for your incredible work ethic never giving up and somehow figuring out how to impose your will on a game and change the single-handedly changing the outcome Thank You Kobe you taught us what happens when you outwork fear with the relentless Mamba mentality teaching us that failure is a non-existent concept [Applause] Thank You Kobe for not only making the players on your team better but you forced your opponents to raise their game as well Thank You Kobe for inspiring a generation of fans to fall in love with the game Thank You Kobe for playing through enormous pain and sometimes putting the team on your back to carry us to the finish line and Colby I thank you for staying loyal to the purple and gold and and remaining a Laker for life would have might have been easier for you to leave we asked you for your hustle and you gave us your heart which was so much more you showed us how to win by sheer well hard work and perseverance you have forever made your mark on this franchise your legacy is much greater than basketball no one will ever wear eight or 24 again for the Lakers because they are being retired the time has come Lakers fans please direct your attention up to the southeast corner of the arena were number eight and number 24 will hang forever as we honor one of our Lakers rakes Kobe Bryant [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] thank you I want to say you know it's thank you so much for tonight but you know it's not it's not about my jerseys that are hanging up there for me you know it's about the jerseys that were hanging up there before and without them I couldn't be here today they inspired me to play the game on a high level magic cab Shack pushing me every day Baelor Chamberlain Goodrich West worthy goes on and on and secondly it's about this class organization and Jerry Buss your father believing in a skinny old kid from Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia and it's also about the next generation it's about its current lego roster that we have here it's about it's about embodying the spirit that exists in those jerseys up there and carrying this organization forward so that the next 20 years are better than the past 20 years and that's what it's about and then it's also about the fans fans the media I don't think you guys understand how present you guys were with me you know you guys were there with me at 5:30 in the morning when I was running the track and I was midway through my workout I didn't know if I could make it through and I thought about the expectations you got hot you guys have for me and you have for our team and it pushed me through it got me through those 800 some 400 said 100 at 5:30 in the morning so I thank you it's about family it's about my wife Vanessa you know you guys gonna know this but the last game my last game that we had here against Utah Jazz I was really tired I got home and I was like you know what I don't know if I can do this thing I got one more game left but I don't have any legs and she said I want to show you something I got a gift for you for your last game and she proceeded to show me the role of retired jerseys from Baylor for magic from Shaq from cab all the personal messages signed to me including for Michael Jordan including from the great Bill Russell included from the great Larry Bird and when I saw that I knew then that I had to turn it up turn it off so thank you baby for being an inspiration to me and and lastly our daughters Natalia Gianna and Bianca you know I I I hope that tonight is not you know you guys know that you know if you do the work you work hard enough dreams come true you know that we all know that but hopefully what you get from tonight is the understanding that those times when you get up early and you work hard those times when you stay up late and you work hard those times when you don't feel like working you're too tired you don't want to push yourself but you do it anyway that is actually the dream that's the dream it's not the destination it's the journey and if you guys if you guys can understand that then what you'll see happen is that you won't accomplish your dreams your dreams won't come true something greater will and if you guys can understand that then I'm doing my job as a father thank you guys so much I love you [Applause] [Music] the eloquence of Kobe Bryant what a night what a celebration very family-oriented in his speech singling out his wife and his three daughters means so much to him this great Lakers organization the bus family for sticking with him believing in him a Laker for life Kobe Bryant number eight number 24 forever hanging in the rafters at Staples Center the only thing I mean that was a no-brainer there the fact that both yours would go up but I think what matters the most is the message that Kobe said to the fans that more importantly the message that he sent to the current Laker roster about what it takes for the journey you create a kolbe over here it's so driving in today I'm sure you saw the crowd of people outside all these people and you're not even playing the night I mean you been retired the effect you have on this city does that are you ever in all of that or is that something that you can feel no I it's weird man it's you know cuz growing up just why I just want to play basketball you're gonna mean and then once when Championships I wanted to be regarded as one of the greats and all the stuff that was very very internally driven individually driven and as you get older and as I sit here now I come to realize that it's really not about those things those things carry a greater significance to them and it's how well can you affect or impact others not from the sense of fandom or whatever the case may be but it's through your actions through your behavior through your commitment to the game how can that inspire people to be as committed in whatever field that they're choosing to be a part of and that's where I think the connection that we have and we've fed off of that energy I've cut off their energy from it for many many years and and I think that's the best of reaction you're saying Ted so oh the right I go over here good to see you again I remember the first day you walked into the floor and I'm thinking that little kid right now is still inside of you somewhere can you go back there and think about even imagining that this has happened and just the emotions of dealing with all these accolades and at the same time have you had a chance to look outside yet and see what's going on in Colby Lane I haven't had a chance to look outside and see him I saw it driving in and what I mean it's kind of like and then secondly I can remember back to being being a kid because that that child inside of me is never left and all the years I've been playing here that child inside of me is never left I mean one of the first things I did when I walked into the forum when her lights were down he was dimly lit and I looked up and looked at all the jerseys that were up there because I'd seen him many times on video tapes before and before every game I made a point to kind of glance up there remind me of what I'm playing for you know how I got here and what it is that we're representing appreciate all of this as you evolved as a person well the appreciation comes in moments it comes in increments you know like you go through a moment in time and you realize that you're going way too fast you know I really get a chance to appreciate everything that's happening so you take a beat and you appreciate it but the reality is you can't stay there you know I mean because then you can't ever grow and evolve right so there's moments of appreciation and then you eventually you have to move on and focus with your head down on what comes next second round the center Obi Chao throw for a totally Madonna della to a career a crafty Tori Christic America's shipping type in Sato wisdom Athena opens autumn Aalto perky volleyball team an earring in encuesta memento condo RSO communist enemy sent on patch in patch me sinto orgulloso the color to taka fat covet aqua coral acres they're all dentro de met Apache Mark Medina play Thompson doing stuff with body armor and Kevin Durant and so wouldn't IKEA what kind of business perspectives have you offered any of those guys well I mean it's just to be a part of brands that you believe in as you believe share the same core values as you and then everything else tends to fall in place but you gotta find a connection with brands and what they represent and what you represent what you want to stand for and then then everything else takes care of itself and Mambo Sports Academy we embrace the Mamba mentality the Mamba mentality is constant curiosity asking questions how do I become better today than I was yesterday that means bringing passion to the process it means bringing the maximum effort required to be great here we state for ourselves and our goals are our own take responsibility for the work required to achieve those goals Mambo Sports Academy is really evolved and have fun it's got to be fun this is where we become better members of our team our family and our community ultimately the best version of ourselves [Laughter] [Music] so that's really cool to see Kobe in a different role [Music] [Music] Jame man friends every day of night every night how would you describe your in coaching style teach all the basics fundamentals my footwork moving off the ball handling the ball passing cut and rebound in boxing I like all the basic stuff you lay back and you kind of let them find their own way a lot patience patience bender 12 he's got to be patient let him develop let him grow they surprise you at all with like how surprised me how fast it goes how fast a time saver that's surprising we've really been doing this for 10 months when I first started it could be only dribble shooting all that stuff and now I'm either we've gotten a lot better than 10 ones maybe there's one thing that Toby always talks about is you get better by practice working out and putting the time in but our girls play basketball or we're down to seven days a week in the summertime it's double session and at first you're kind of like that's a little bit crazy things like well yeah but you want to be number one coach Marvin Val you know you've been putting it in you know he's you can see that he wants to you know get out there sometime but now my excellent coach man I'm learning so much you know even as a parent just by watching his coaching style he'll tell them something and he'll make noises we have a list of his noises and he'll be like Papa Papa and then they'll go and do it pop up up exactly the way he says or he'll go a fast and then they do it but pop it's just weird definitely keep her very compassionate for these girls shows just a lot of love for what he does and for these girls from the team and what it's becoming [Applause] [Music] yeah they're mine until they go off to college right so this team the plan that we have in place Ohio teachers is a six-year plan how artistic actually you teach it in increments to teach it and piece by piece by piece by piece by piece which is very patient preaching and really better every day just get better every day that's all let's get better every day [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] they're here at the ASA season opener I'm joined by the Bryan's Toby and Gigi now Kobe's starting with you just as a pure fan of the game watching this league grow from 1997 till now where it is what does it like to see that grow well it's awesome to see the progress that's been made they still understand I believe is still that attendance the amount of broke that it's going to have over the next several years is going to be and you are a part of a dynasty with the Lakers people are saying that the Aces have a chance to be the dynasty of the WNBA adding Kamboj Wilson plum McBride I mean it goes down the roster who ignore some your favorite players okay aja Wilson and Jackie and as the reigning Rookie of the Year I mean aja Wilson took the league by storm last year if we really only see the tip of the iceberg how much do you watch her and tell people um and kind of tune your game and try to do what they do on the court watch as much of them as I can so you get more information more inspiration and finally for you what would it be like the one day be a WMD player I think I mean every good evening and thank you so much for joining us we're gonna begin with the death of basketball legend Kobe Bryant tonight investigators from the FBI and the NTSB are scouring a hillside outside Los Angeles where the helicopter carrying Bryant his daughter and seven others crashed CBS News has learned the pilot was given special permission to fly despite bad weather conditions meantime fans continue to gather at the Staples Center leaving tributes were Bryant played most of his career he joined the NBA as a teenager and after 20 dazzling seasons left as one of its all-time greats Time magazine has already issued a commemorative issue and there's news tonight on the Basketball Hall of Fame Dana Jacobson will have [ __ ] Bryant and his legacy in just a moment at Kobey's mambas sports economy at word spread quickly I'm still in shock I still can't believe loss of a legend the world is mourning the sudden and tragic death of Kobe Bryant and his 13 year old daughter Gianna at approximately 9:45 a.m. the helicopter slammed into the side of a hill killing everyone on board sounds of fans gathered to mourn Kobe leaving flowers hats and jerseys outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles to pay tribute to the basketball icon as his poster on my wall everywhere I wished I was a kid I'm 30 years old now had this poster in my room everywhere I moved to he was my hero [Music] decided their cookies I hear but all these people are a testament to know all the greatness he's brought to Le I grew up in a Laker family I looked up the Kobe you as my inspiration he's my idol he's one of my idols and I grew up as a kid watching him play basketball can a staple center has seen him play can of the parade Kobe was one of our first words I don't know why I went back to this much still chill Banzai I can't really put it into complete words it's kind of nice to be here surrounded by those who kind of feel your pain I just want to be around folks who feel the same way you know I mean it's a hard day [Music] you feel like you just lost one of your NBA games continued as scheduled but Kobe was not far from their minds the NBA and the game of basketball will mourn this loss together please join us in a moment of silence for Kobe Bryant rest in peace mamba tre young of the Atlanta Hawks wore a number 8 Jersey in honor of his idol Kobe rather than his usual number 11 and PJ Tucker of the Houston Rockets wrote love UK b-24 on his sneakers right here in New York City Madison Square Garden changed its exterior lights to Lakers purple and gold and one fan changed the subway sign of New York's Bryant Park to Kobe Bryant Park next emotional tributes are pouring in from Kobe's fellow NBA players Magic Johnson admitted his mind was racing he wrote I love him his family and what he stood for on and off the court Shaquille O'Neal posted photos with his former teammate writing I'm sick right now and Michael Jordan released a statement saying he was a little brother to me Dwyane Wade couldn't hide his grief in this tearful video today is one of the saddest days in my lifetime it seems like a bad thing a bad dream I know we all feel the same way about such a great it's a great leader it's a great champion Shaq you're the first guy I thought of when I heard this news the other day of course I talked to you and Charles and Kenny later that afternoon but then I saw that you had gotten a text from Coby that morning Shareef had gotten one what how do you how have you been over the last 48 hours so the other day I'm downstairs working out with my son - Shakir my nephew Columbus the mother of enough who comes in crying and he showed me his phone and I snapped at him I said McGee though out my face get away from you know we live in a world where anything could be photoshopped anything could be hoaxed I didn't want to believe it and then I got a call from you Charles Kenny everybody called me and then we found out it was confirmed and having felt the pain that sharp in a while we names will be attached together for what we did people always ask about our relationship and I tell them it's just like me and Charles got to strong minded people that are going to get it done that way we're gonna say certain things the respect that never be lost when it comes to be inside the lines and win I've said me and I said we did that's what me and Charles that's what we do it was sort of like a triple triple stabbing to the heart because after you cry and wondered about that then I get back on the in and that Rick Fox's on the plane so now I'm sick even more I'm calling Rick he's not answering so now I'm like what's going on and then the final blow his lovely daughter was with them on the helicopter you know we every time I saw his lovely wife in this kids something I do it with kidneys kids and DeWitt's kids hi my name is Uncle Chuck I don't know if they know mr. bachelor but it doesn't matter I just I am uncle Shaq I try to make him laugh and he would do the same thing Shariff probably devastated I said Kobe just texted me to check and see how he's doing and he used to do that from time to time you know just makes me think that and in life sometimes instead of holding them back certain things we should just do do you weigh waaahh was this we are we up here we work a lot and I think about we take stuff for granted like I don't talk to you guys as much as I think much is that needed to the fact that we're not going to be able Joe get his Hall of Fame ceremony what I'm going to be able to say hi I got five you got four the fact that we're not going to be able to say if we would stay together we kind of got 10 both of the dude can't get back and with the loss of my father but my sister I'm a pig that's all I wish I could just say something to him again I start my talk it was when we were here and I answer to get 50 that he got 60 it's a lot of time I spoke to him and I just wish I could you know so it definitely changes me I have to it's not working like you guys know what I do I work probably more than the average guy but I just really have to now just take time and just call and say I like Rick Fox call finally called me said man I like you he shall call me so I'm gonna try to do a better job just reaching out just talking to the people rather than always procrastinate because you never know life is too short never I could never imagine nothing like this I was thinking the other day I've never seen anything like this all the basketball idols that I grew up I seal their old like I used to be at home when you came to interview me already I used to watch the great round mound of rebound now I'm working with him I used to want to be dr. J he used to live next door to my mother and I lined up my father used to tell me about the three great big man I met him I seen him in the fact that I've we lost probably the world's greatest Laker world's great battle pledges I listen people want to say take your time and get better but it's gonna be on from me I already don't sleep anyway so but how I figured out my condolence goes out to his family his mom his dad his sisters the other families everybody involved Laker organization I talked to Jeannie Atlanta and people here hurt and especially in this organization you know some people have to get treatment and people just just don't understand because hit all of us out of nowhere I didn't want to believe it I said it myself I hope somebody some buttface made this up and it's not true I didn't want to believe it and then I forgive all of them but the cause and that you finally felt was concerned and just it just you know my spirit just left my body I just wish I could be able to say one thing to the one last thing to the people that we we lost because I know once you're gone you're gone forever and you know we should never take stuff like that for granted be who you are be your and I mean that in a sense of you know we all go through things and I think it's just being aware of which you with your experience having a time where there's frustration whether it's anger that it's a joy or sadness you know it's fine to experience those things because we all do you know and I think it's just accepting where you are and once you do that and it's very easy to pivot from that and move on and I think the most important thing is finding what is that you love to do that's the hardest part and it took work like basketball was born to play but the second phase what we're doing took a lot of work a lot of soul-searching a lot of investigating trying things out but when you find what it is that you love to do do you wake up every morning with a sense of purpose joso my life is it's been great and I fell into a great routine I work out five o'clock every morning take the kids to school get some breakfast with my wife goes to the office work there picked the kids up and then from there is just you know volleyball here a basketball here soccer there that's what we tell once you have the passion that thing that you're passionate about now you can look at other people or other entities or other things or works of art and you can draw things from that to help you be better at what you looking for those common denominators you wake up in the morning and you're dreading going to work dude do something else do something else and those are hard decisions to make but when you make those decisions it's a very liberating experience I guess just kind of sit in the moment who did you laugh whatever is inside of me at that moment just come just come forward I think prepare for stuff like this kind of it's not really truthful just kind of got a sit the moment absorb it then whatever comes out come down in 20 years are we gonna be talking about your legacy in basketball or investing which would you prefer investing you know that's it playing basketball you know the focus is always on winning when in championships winning championships within Championships now Championships come and go right it's gonna be another team that wants another championship another player that was another MVP award but if you really want to create something that lasts generations you have to help inspire the next generation it's not about your point it's about you taking it channeling that food game right as a resident as a as a way to to unleash right so loud you can't matter how do i express that to them how do I get them to that point where they figured this out for themselves and he wanted the call and give me encouragement to say don't change for them you have to stay focused if you want to be one of the all-time greats you have to study all hung greats you have to be obsessive about what you do and how you do it the best way to prove your your value is to work is to learn is to absorb to be a sponge you should always want to outwork your potential as hard as you believe you can work you can work harder than that so it's not a matter of pushing beyond the limitations expectations that's really the key and when you do that in the world just seems limitless [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] because the man's Anatomy [Music] potatoes came to see if you talk about elevation [Music] to the coffee shop [Applause] [Music] [Music] get to the run [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] you [Applause]

Channel: beatGrade

Views: 3,221,340

Rating: 4.7989397 out of 5

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Id: wLT6diLsBp4

Length: 199min 23sec (11963 seconds)

Published: Thu Feb 27 2020