"If someone said he wasn't interested, he would ignore them in games" - Toni Kukoc speaks about Kobe' obsessive work ethic

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Kobe Bryant was an enigma, as he was one of the most talented players ever, but he worked harder than anyone. Some players coasted on their talent and still were successful, which Kobe countered by having an unreal and obsessive work ethic.

While it was respectable that he worked so hard, players around the league got turned off by Kobe’s obsessive approach to the game. It included his teammates, who all felt the brunt of the complete Kobe experience. Three-time NBA Champion Toni Kukoc has recently given more context into what it was like for teammates to play with the ‘Black Mamba’.

“I will go back to Kobe’s statement. Kobe played selfishly, in a way. In the beginning, Michael didn’t even trust his teammates. Kobe went to the extreme measure when his teammates told him, ‘Let’s go out, let’s have some fun and party.’ He would say, ‘I will,’” Kukoc said to Sport Klub. “He would stay with them until midnight and then leave, then call them at four in the morning and invite them to the gym. If someone said he wasn’t interested, he would ignore them in games.”

Kobe’s hard work led to success

In 1996, Bryant was one of the rawest prospects imaginable. The 18-year-old was fresh out of high school, which meant he had unreal potential, but he was not as refined as most players would like. However, Kobe always dared to step up, including the Playoff loss to the Utah Jazz in his rookie year. Shaquille O’Neal knew they were going to get them back one day, as KB took the crucial shot attempts when nobody else was willing to take them.

That fueled Kobe to become a better player, as he religiously practiced and improved his overall game. It made him one of the most exciting players in the league, as Bryant formed a phenomenal one-two punch with Shaq. It led to three championships in a row in the early 2000s with Shaq, but Bean struggled afterward when his partner left.

Due to his success, Kobe held a high standard. He was used to playing with Shaquille and those squads, which led to an unmatched mindset when he clashed with teammates, as Kukoc said. The most prominent of those clashes must be his spat with Smush Parker, whom he said should not have been in the NBA.

Kobe pushed everyone else to succeed

While most people will not agree with his methods, Kobe became a superb leader by 2008 when he had a good supporting cast led by Pau Gasol. It was growth, as he got past the “not passing the ball label” earlier in his career. Bryant became more of an inclusive leader, averaging more assists than ever.

However, the obsessive work ethic will not go away. Even in the final few seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant worked with a young Julius Randle. Kobe stuck with what made him succeed, which led to a legendary career filled with accolades, including five championships, two Finals MVPs, and a regular-season MVP.