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Although the NBA has now moved on to its second year without Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant at the helm, the “Mamba Mentality” is still alive and well. Players talk about it all the time as one of the reasons they may have had a big game that night, or a hit a clutch shot.
However, it seems the “Mamba Mentality” may have expanded beyond the NBA. During a recent video for The Players Tribune, Seattle Seahawks star cornerback Richard Sherman describes how he channeled his inner Bryant after sustaining a season-ending injury Achilles of his own:
“Heck, you tore your Achilles, shot two free throws, and walked off,” said Sherman. “So when I tore mine, I said, ‘Kobe walked it off. Get off of me, I'm about to walk this off.'”
When @RSherman_25 tore his Achilles, he thought about @KobeBryant.
Watch as he says thank you to the Black Mamba.
(Created on the Galaxy S8) @SamsungMobileUS pic.twitter.com/6nOdaRHQcR
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) December 18, 2017
When I tore my Achilles, I wanted to walk off the field. Because that’s what Kobe did. He continues to inspire me.
Thank you, Kobe. #MambaMentality #Ko8e24
(w/ @PlayersTribune & @SamsungMobileUS) https://t.co/TOEv80dyG9
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) December 18, 2017
As many already know, Sherman was referring to when the five-time champ managed to hit two clutch free-throws before walking off the floor with a ruptured Achilles back in 2013 versus the Golden State Warriors. Sherman was in the midst of a stellar 2017 NFL season when he went down with a torn Achilles versus the Arizona Cardinals in early November.
As a Los Angeles native and notorious Lakers fan, Sherman has made his Bryant fandom well known. However, his admiration for the five-time champ clearly exceeds that of your average NBA fan. Which goes to show that even world-class athletes like Sherman can draw inspiration from the most unfortunate of events to help him bounce back strong like Bryant did.
