3 time WNBA Champion and ambassador for all of women’s basketball, Sue Bird shares a story on ESPNW about a time during the 2008 Olympics where the late Kobe Bryant displayed his mamba mentality at a kickback.
Sue Bird states, Kobe along with others were all sitting together relaxing when the Black Mamba noticed a newspaper article nearby, which featured at the time Paul Pierce.
The significance of this is that the Celtics had just defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, which went 7 games, 4-2. Game 6 which ended in blow out fashion, with a final score of 131-92, showed Kobe leaving the Boston arena with green and white paraphanalia falling over him as he exited.
After seeing Paul Pierce, Kobe grabs the article, cuts out the picture of Paul Pierce, then slides it in his jacket, quietly; Kobe then proceeds to according to Sue Bird announce,
“Motivation”
Team USA then went on to defeat Spain in the Gold Medal game 118-107, led by Kobe Bryant who scored 20 points, 6 dimes, and 3 rebounds.
Nevertheless, that picture of Paul Pierce did serve Kobe right, with the Lakers then going on to win the next two NBA finals. The Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in 2009 (4-1), then getting revenge on the Celtics in Staples Center winning that series 4-3.
Flip the page to see Sue Bird share her story with ESPNW
