{
  "id": 6100024,
  "title": "Nick Van Exel: Kobe Bryant’s Infamous Misses Were Key To Building His ‘Mamba Mentality",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/nick-van-exel-kobe-bryants-infamous-misses-were-key-to-building-his",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-07T04:31:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nick-van-exel-kobe-bryant-043102211.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a recent appearance on \"To The Baha,\" former Lakers player Nick Van Exel discussed the \"Mamba Mentality\" and its impact on Kobe Bryant, both as a person and a player. Van Exel recalled a Zoom meeting with young fans during which a mental coach emphasized the importance of this mindset. He noted that even though Kobe Bryant missed two big shots during the 1997 NBA playoffs, he didn't let failure get the best of him. Instead, Bryant continued to work hard and improve, which was evident when he arrived in Los Angeles for the 1997-98 season. Van Exel expressed his disdain for the term \"Mamba Mentality,\" stating that many people use it without putting in the necessary work. However, Van Exel admitted that Kobe Bryant's dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence set him apart from other players. Despite coming up short in the 1997 playoffs, Bryant bounced back stronger in the following season, earning an All-Star selection and setting the stage for a successful career. His work ethic was evident even as a 19-year-old, as he averaged 15.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. This early foundation of hard work and perseverance would ultimately lead to multiple NBA championships and further cement Kobe Bryant's legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history.",
  "summary": "Nick Van Exel recently opened up about the essence of Kobe Bryant's \"Mamba Mentality\" and how his infamous shortcomings helped cultivate it.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}