Kobe Bryant, the TCK with Mamba Mentality
The whole world remains in shock from last month’s tragic helicopter crash, leading to the tragic passing away of Kobe Bryant. The crash was just outside Los Angeles with nine others, including his daughter Gianna, being casualties.
As tributes flow in, many are reflecting on Kobe’s achievements. The basketball court is where they are the most notable – he won five championships, two olympic gold models, and at the time of retirement was the fourth highest in career scoring in NBA history. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest players of the game.
Off the court he was a big soccer fan. Barcelona and AC Milan were his teams of choice, with tributes flowing in from Neymar and Messi, showing his global reach. Women’s sports were also something he invested his time and energy into, greatly motivated by his daughters. He attended many WNBA games with them, instilling a competitive streak through his training and mentorship.
What is lesser known to the masses is that his TCK upbringing influenced his achievements greatly. At the age of 6, Kobe moved to Italy, as his father moved from the NBA to play in the Italian league. His parents pushed him to fully engage in the culture, where he socialized with the locals, learning the language. Like many of us TCKs, he experienced racism in his new home. He channeled these feelings of isolation and ostracization into his basketball and the game gave him a chance to prove himself.
When he returned to the US, he had the same issue of isolation. He didn’t understand the culture and language norms, and once again sunk deep into the game. This resulted in him developing his now famous ‘mamba mentality’ which was based on getting the best out of himself.
“His coping mechanism, he said, was to create an alternate personality for himself, a ruthless character known as ‘The Black Mamba,’ a name he derived from a scene in the movie "Kill Bill."
Bryant shall remain an inspiration for TCKs on how to positively channel experiences of isolation and ostracization in order to excel in your chosen field. As a life tragically cut short, we can always reflect on how we can utilize our cross-cultural experiences to achieve what we put our minds to.
How has your TCK experience inspired you to dive deep into your chosen field?
Learn more:
Read more about Kobe Bryant’s life and legacy.
Here’s a look at Kobe’s TCK background.
Kobe’s Mamba Mentality explained.
