THE MAMBA MENTALITY: How Bryant’s Basketball Philosophy on the Pursuit of Excellence can Inspire the Next Generation toward Virtuous Action Pubblico
Yeary, Henry (Spring 2022)
Abstract
The Mamba Mentality was developed by the late, great basketball legend Kobe Bryant during his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. His way of life, work ethic, and frame of mind is evidently expressed through his pursuit of excellence in basketball. By exploring ancient Greek philosophy relating to virtue ethics, I argue for an understanding of Aristotle's work that pertains to the significance of athletic training insofar as it is an activity of practicing practical elements of virtue as a vital counterpart to the theoretical aspects of philosophical virtues. Following my interpretation of Aristotle’s work, I dissect the Mamba Mentality, starting with the five pillars that Bryant articulated himself (Fearlessness, Relentlessness, Passion, Obsessiveness, and Resilience), into 24 different accessible attributes. I discern these specific attributes from Bryant’s words and actions, on and off the basketball court. Of course, the Mamba Mentality represents Bryant’s approach to life as much as it does his approach to basketball. His philosophy on the pursuit of excellence centers upon enjoying the arduous process of continuous self-improvement and helping inspire others to pursue excellence. The focus of his philosophy is intellectually profound and leads one, through proper embodiment, to engender excellent performance in one's own life. In many ways, this work establishes the philosophical relevance of Bryant’s Mamba Mentality and then demonstrates what exactly it is, in the fullest sense. Ultimately, the story of Kobe Bryant and his way of life is about the transformation of self and of others. Perhaps the contemporary models of education in the west fail to incorporate athletic training and, in doing so, restrict the youth's development to a purely theoretical realm. This thesis argues that the next generation would benefit greatly from employing tactics to further enhance the practical application of such knowledge and instilling aspects of the Mamba Mentality in the youth.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Meet Kobe Bryant 1
A Noble End
The Philosophy of an Athlete
Affinity with Virtue Ethics
Thesis Roadmap
My Museum of Sources
1 Athletics in Ancient Greece 11
Ancient Gymnasia
The Relevance of Athletics in Aristotle’s Ethics
Section Summary
2 Why The Mamba Mentality? 27
Basketball and Kobe Bryant
Methodology of Research
Attributes Symbolize Realizations of the Mamba Mentality
3 The Quality of Fearlessness 40
Chase Ambitious Goals With Courage
Do Not Let Fear Inhibit Action
“Failure” is an Illusion
Cultivate True Self-Confidence & Self-Assurance
Remain Unfazed by Discomfort
4 The Quality of Relentlessness 57
Invest in Self-Discipline
Think Long-Term
Self-Assess, Diagnose, & Address
Rest at the End, Not in the Middle
Know Your Priorities
5 The Quality of Passion 77
Purpose is a Reservoir of Intrinsic Motivation
Love the Process
Make Prudent Sacrifices
Inspire Others
Help the Young Improve
6 The Quality of Obsessiveness 93
Study, Practice, Perform, Repeat
Feed Curiosity
Pay Attention to the Details
Refine Mental Endurance, Focus
Find Your Flow-State
7 The Quality of Resilience 110
Mental Toughness is about Striking a Balance
Use Negative Experiences as Motivation
Bounce Back and Endure
Be a Transformational Leader in Your Community
8 Philosophy as A Way of Life 128
Legacy
The Implications of Bryant’s Five Pillars
On the Education Process
Appendix A: Images of Architecture 136
Appendix B: Images of Kobe Bryant 143
Glossary 151
Works Cited 152
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