"Everybody wants to be Kobe, but they don't want to put in the time" - Ex-Lakers coach Del Harris reflects on Kobe Bryant's work ethic

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Former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Del Harris once shared valuable insights about the legendary Kobe Bryant. Looking at how the game has evolved, Harris believed that many aspire to mirror Bryant’s success, charisma, and legacy, but they often fall short due to their reluctance to put in the necessary work to achieve it.

Harris implied they tend to overlook the countless hours of dedication and practice that propelled Bryant to greatness. And perhaps only guys like Michael Jordan and Steph Curry possessed the incredible work ethic Kobe had.

“Kobe loved to play,” Harris told ESPN in 2020. “Him, (Michael) Jordan, Steph Curry and a few others had great work ethic. They were willing to put in the time. Everybody wants to be Kobe, but they don’t want to put in the time.”

Harris witnessed Kobe turn from a boy to a man

Harris coached Bryant in his first three seasons in the NBA. As a coach, Harris’s assessment was that Kobe was brash and hardheaded like any other typical teenager. But even though they had their fair share of disagreements on certain things, Harris still felt privileged to have witnessed Bryant’s evolution as a player.

To this day, Harris still vividly recalls how Bryant transitioned from a promising and fearless rookie with raw talent to a seasoned athlete with unmatched dedication to his craft. Harris knew he wasn’t there when Bryant finally hit his stride as a player, but ultimately, he was amazed by how swift “Black Mamba” matured.

“We talked different times over the years, but he was focused mainly at first just on him and what he could do to be the best,” Harris said of young Kobe. “And for a while, he wasn’t the best teammate because he was, you know, in it to be the best. And he didn’t have patience for other players who couldn’t do what he could do. But he developed maturity later in his career. And he became such a man and did things for others.”

Phil saw the same thing in Kobe

Like Harris, the legendary Phil Jackson was also tasked to guide a thriving Bryant to be the best he could possibly be as a player. Jackson once described Bryant as a player with a rare combination of arrogance and determination.

Admittedly, “The Zen Master” viewed Bryant as “disrespectful” during the early stages of his stardom. However, Jackson said that at the same time, Bryant proved to him that he had the undying desire and dedication to be the best player in the league.

Over time, Jackson recognized that Bryant’s confidence may have been misconstrued as arrogance, but he believed this very trait fueled the youngster’s insatiable hunger for success. After all, it was also what set Kob’ apart from his peers.

“He was a guy who was competitive, a shark who was seeking blood in the water. His arrogance coming into the game was almost rude. I remember watching him in his first All-Star Game, and I thought he was disrespectful in how he approached the game. But he was always challenging, always trying to go after the biggest fish in the water,” Jackson once said of Bryant.

Kobe would have influenced more players to be like him

It was always a mix of nostalgia and regret whenever Harris looked back at his time with Bryant. Like many of us, Del also wished the five-time champion was still here to continue guiding young NBA players en route to the best version of themselves.

Indeed, Bryant’s untimely passing was devastating, and Harris often ponders the more wonderful things he would have contributed to the game and the more lives he could’ve changed.

“And the shame of it all is that, at age 41, he was going to make an impact for years. He had a program all set up. But it’s a shame that he wasn’t able to continue on for another 20, 30 years and show just what kind of a man he turned out to be,” Harris lamented.

Undeniably, it’s safe to say that Bryant continues to inspire people from all walks of life, even after his tragic death. His display of dedication to accomplishing milestones and consistent work ethic left a lasting impact on the NBA community and beyond. His memory endures through his famous mantra, “The Mamba Mentality,” a philosophy of relentless determination and continuous self-improvement.

Bryant’s legacy lives on through his incredible achievements during his playing years and what he attained after retirement. Through his books, interviews, and charitable work, Bryant’s influence is still present and felt.

Apart from all the above mentioned, many remembered Kobe as a devoted family man. For sure, Coach Harris and Jackson would both agree that despite his imperfections early in his career, Bryant went on to become a perfect role model.