The late Kobe Bryant’s ferocious drive and competitiveness, the mamba mentality, has greatly influenced the current generation of elite athletes. That was evident on Sunday night when two key players separately referred to a Bryant quote at Super Bowl 55 that they are not satisfied until a championship has been won.
Chief quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Buccaneers pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul each pointed out something Bryant told a reporter after Game 2 of the 2009 NBA final between the Lakers and Magic.
In context, when asked why he wasn’t smiling after LA took a 2-0 lead, Bryant said this: “The job ain’t done … the job ain’t done,” said Bryant. The Lakers won the series in five games.
The Bryant quote became part of the 2020 NBA Finals when the Lakers played the heat. LA won that series in six.
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Mahomes ‘tip-off about the Chiefs’ victory over the bills in the AFC championship game was part of a major tribute to Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in California a year ago on Tuesday.
Pierre-Paul referred to the Bryant quote in an interview with NFL Network’s Joe Thomas after the Bucs beat the Packers in the NFC title game. (Switch to 2:00 for what JPP said.)
Both players already have Super Bowl rings: Mahomes won his last year with the Chiefs and Pierre-Paul received one with the Giants in the 2011 season. They want another on February 7th in Tampa and are ready to work on it.
