The Mamba Mentality: How I Play

“I had a constant craving, a yearning, to improve and be the best,” writes Los Angeles Lakers legend Bryant in this exciting coffee-table book full of inspiring quotes, insights to his game, and beautiful photos by Bernstein. With a focus on “Process” and “Craft,” Bryant lays out his routine, including the rigorous workout schedule—three two-hour sessions that started at 5 a.m.—that he developed in order to maximize family time ( “I decided to sacrifice sleep”). Bryant writes that, early in his career, he scoured the referee handbook, which allowed him to get away with “holds, travels, and all sorts of minor violations simply because I took the time to understand the officials’ limitations.” Even the national anthem served as game preparation, during which he tried “to feel the energy of the environment and allow it to move through me.” With Bernstein’s intimate, vivid photos, readers get escorted to cheerless practice gyms, press scrums, and sterile locker rooms. “Greatness is not for everybody,” Bryant believes, and in this pictorial he convincingly chronicles the relentless zigzagging required for those who hope to achieve it. A wide range of hoops fans—from NBA buffs looking to understand Bryant’s approach to aspiring hoopsters seeking an on-court edge—are in for a treat. [em](Oct.) [/em]