That time when Kobe Bryant challenged athletes and celebrities to have #MambaMentality
Happy Mamba Monday!
Missing Kobe has never been easy. It started in 2016 when he retired from the NBA; no one backing down defenders on the court. Still, after one year of leaving the courts, Kobe found a way to backhand challenges. And today he still does, although not in his traditional way.
Well, in 2017 our favorite Laker uploaded a series of cryptic pictures each dawning a powerful word and specific color.
The words and their corresponding color were: OPTIMISM (Yellow), PASSION (Red), DETACHED (Grey), HONESTY (Blue), and FEARLESS (Purple).
Today, on #MambaMonday we bring his #MambaMentality back. And remind the world of the eternal power that The Black Mamba has.
So, challenge accepted. Let’s continue his legacy of changing the world in, and outside, the court.
Purple for Isaiah Thomas…
.@Isaiah_Thomas I challenge you to make the All-NBA First Team next season #MambaMentality pic.twitter.com/kl8FN4JiO9
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) August 24, 2017
Blue for DeMar DeRozan…
.@DeMar_DeRozan I challenge you to rekindle a lost friendship from your youth in Compton #MambaMentality pic.twitter.com/82XF2elJ1f
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) August 24, 2017
Grey for Kendrick Lamar…
.@KendrickLamar I challenge your record label to revolutionize the music program at Centennial High School #MambaMentality pic.twitter.com/dviWdNbXMS
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) August 24, 2017
Red for Allyson Felix…
.@allysonfelix I challenge you to coach the sprinters for the upcoming Special Olympics #MambaMentality pic.twitter.com/aaL6eiC9Lh
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) August 24, 2017
Yellow for Richard Sherman…
.@RSherman_25 I challenge you to break the Seahawks single season interception record #MambaMentality pic.twitter.com/4g9kOx2YhA
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) August 24, 2017
Each image was partnered with a specific challenge tailored to a specific celebrity. Newly traded Isaiah Thomas was given a challenge under the very fitting Fearless photo to make the All-NBA First Team next season.
IT promptly accepted the challenge as Kobe continued to call everyone out using the signature hashtag #MambaMentality. Richard Sherman did the same.
Challenge accepted! #SAYLESS #MambaMentality
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) August 24, 2017
Although this is all part of a marketing campaign for his new shoes with Nike, it doesn’t negate the fact that these are sincere challenges that the celebs can choose to accomplish.
Each color will be a different version of his new shoe giving insight to the Mamba’s mind and how each color effects his personality.
Amongst Kobe’s #MambaMentality challenges, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo felt excluded from the party and demanded Kobe for a challenge. Kobe’s response? He simply replied “MVP” to Giannis’ initial tweet.
This definitely isn’t too much of a stretch considering the young Greek Freak ended this season averaging his highest career points and finishing 8th in the MVP voting.
Giannis Antetotokounmpo asked Kobe for a challenge…
Still waiting for my challenge.. @kobebryant
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) August 24, 2017
He got one…
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) August 27, 2017