How a young Kobe Bryant overcame cold player receptions during his Sixers workouts: "Let's show this young kid what's up"
'To be the best, you must beat the best' is a motto that particularly resonates with young basketball players aiming to make their mark in the sport. This was also the case for Kobe Bryant when the then-18-year-old worked out with the Philadelphia 76ers for a month.
The aim was to give the 'Black Mamba' a glimpse into the NBA life to help him decide between going pro immediately or pursuing college first. However, the Sixers players didn't make this decision-making experience an easy one for young Kobe.
"At first, they said, 'Let's show this young kid what's up.' They were going to whomp me around, talk to me. But I'm the type of person who won't back down," recounted Bryant, per SLAM Magazine.
Kobe refused to be discouraged
During his illustrious 20-year NBA career, Kobe was celebrated for numerous qualities. One particularly noteworthy trait was his renowned Mamba Mentality, emphasizing mental fortitude and resilience. This mindset wasn't cultivated overnight but rather took root early on, as evidenced by the Merion High School graduate's reaction to the cold demeanor of his workout partners.
"I just kept coming at them, kept coming hard," Kobe remarked.
During the scrimmages, 'Jellybean' was pitted against Jerry Stackhouse and endeavored to assert himself against the team's 3rd pick in the 1995 NBA Draft. However, for Kobe, it transcended merely "holding his own."
Back then, media accounts suggested that he actually dominated Stack, who later secured a position on the All-Rookie First Team. While Kobe, who was "only" placed on the All-Rookie Second Team a year later, neither confirmed nor refuted these media reports, Stackhouse later busted the myth of their one-on-one duels.
From frosty welcome to earned respect
Ultimately, for young Bryant, who was born in Philly, the workout with his hometown team proved to be a great success. Him overcoming the initial lack of a warm welcome with his strong mentality left quite an impression.
"I think I really gained their respect, and they started to treat me as one of the guys. Therefore, I was able to learn a lot," he said.
Likely strengthened by these experiences, the talented 6'6" guard finally made up his mind about where to continue his basketball journey. Following his version of 'The Decision' in 1996, Kobe was subsequently drafted 13th overall and was then swiftly traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Just months into his rookie season, Bryant faced the 76ers for the first time. In the win, the 'Black Mamba' came off the bench, as usual in his early years, and played for approximately 21 minutes. Only starting to really showcase his offensive prowess, he scored 12 points on 4-10 shooting from the field, 2-5 from three-point range, and was perfect from the charity stripe.
This game was one of several encounters between the future Lakers icon and the Sixers, with one of their most memorable matchups occurring during the 2001 NBA Finals—the purple and gold, led by Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, clinched the second ring of their legendary three-peat run.
