A Coach's Diary

Kobe Bryant was a killer on the court who was known for never backing down from a challenge, a moment, or an opponent. He had a level of confidence and fearlessness that very few can match, and that, matched with his drive and discipline, is what helped him become one of the greatest athletes ever. But he had to overcome a lot of adversity when he first came into the NBA. He didn’t start at first, and he played limited minutes as a rookie. His teammates weren’t the most welcoming and they didn’t have a hard time telling him. One of the lowest moments of his rookie season came when the Lakers were taking on the Utah Jazz in the playoffs. At the end of the game, Kobe shot 4 airballs in a 5-minute span. He cost his team the game and the series with those air balls. It could have completely ruined some people. Most people don’t even want the ball in their hands at the most important moments of the game, but Kobe did and failed in the worst way. His teammate Shaq, with who Kobe had an up an...