VALENZUELA, PHILIPPINES - JANUARY 28: Notes are seen on a wall with painted portraits of former NBA ... [+]
It is completely appropriate that this might be the year the Los Angeles Lakers became champions again. In the same year, he was due for induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame, a malfunctioning helicopter resulted in the death of Laker legend Kobe Bryant—one of the greatest players ever to wear the purple and gold uniform – setting off worldwide reminiscence worthy of a political or social leader. Here we are 10 months later watching a determined Lebron James attempting to will the Lakers to their first NBA title since the Black Mamba era, and I’m reminded that the “Mamba mentality” didn’t disappear in that California hillside crash.
Instead, Kobe’s tenacity, drive, and mental toughness have lived on to become a rallying cry for this Lakers team—they’ve only lost one postseason game while wearing their “special edition Black Mamba” uniforms. Earlier this month, I experienced firsthand Kobe’s influence around the world when I was invited to speak virtually to an organization in the Philippines. While preparing for the keynote, I spent 30 minutes on a call with my fellow presenter, a female basketball player affectionately known as “The One-Armed Mamba.”
Her real name is Kat Tan and, as the nickname would suggest, she’s a Kobe fan who plays basketball despite having just one arm. During my interview with her, she shared details about her recovery from a freak accident on a carnival ride that had happened when she was in fourth grade. The accident severed her arm and forced a month-long hospital stay.
“When I was in the hospital, that was the first time I saw a Lakers game,” said Tan. “That’s the first time I saw Kobe and I think when I first saw him, I fell in love with him.”
Kobe Bryant poses with Filipino children during his one-day visit to the Philippines at the start of ... [+]
By Christmas, she was back at home asking her father for a basketball goal and decorating her room with Lakers memorabilia. That next year, she tried out for the basketball team and made it. Before long, her amazing story circulated and she became a little legend in the Philippines.
Bryant, through his relationship with Nike, had developed a great passion for the people of the Philippines, and not long after his first visit to Manilla in 1998, he met a then 11-year-old Kat Tan and offered her words of encouragement. He shared with her an early version of what developed into the fearless “Mamba mentality” of striving to be better today than you were yesterday.
His words quickly became part of her daily routine and as she went on to play varsity basketball and compete year after year in various camps and local leagues, she never missed the opportunity to be present when Kobe made a return visit to the island nation. But her nickname didn’t take hold until four years ago in what would be Kobe’s final trip to Manilla for his Mamba Basketball Camp.
At the beginning of that 2016 camp, more than 800 basketball players showed up to learn from the Lakers legend. Over the next four days, that number was whittled down daily through various challenges and evaluations to an eventual final 24—like his number that currently hangs in the historic rafters at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The challenges were rigorous—including being present for 4 am start-times that mirrored his playing days of always being the first player to arrive and begin practice. Each day, Kat made the cut and was one of just six female players still around to be part of what Kobe called “the Mamba 24.”
It was in that final group of the best of the Philippines, that Kat found her Kobe moment.
One grueling practice session ended with Kobe requesting that one of the final 24 step up and hit a high pressure shot from the top of the key. As if being put on the spot by your basketball mentor wasn’t tough enough, the then 30-year-old Kat Tan was told by Kobe—in front of everyone, that if she missed the shot, all of the campers would have to do running drills…while she watched. One shot, one moment; two possibilities—she could miss and be criticized, or she could make it and be admired. Then one more challenge from Kobe: she could back out in advance if she wanted, no penalty.
TAGUIG, PHILIPPINES - JANUARY 30: A fan explores the large mural tribute for basketball legend Kobe ... [+]
“All eyes are on me and I’m like ‘What are you gonna do? You’re in the Mamba camp—you’re in a Mamba mentality.’ Sure I accepted the challenge,” recalled Kat.
Just as quickly as the gym went silent to watch her step to the three-point line, it erupted in celebration as Kat’s jump shot swished through the net. She had just become the hero, in front of her hero.
The One-Armed Mamba had overpowered adversity with her work ethic, mental toughness and daily improvement learned through a 15-year friendship with Kobe. Of course, the now 34-year-old Kat refuses to let anyone call her big moment a lucky shot.
“I don’t think the coaches and the players knew, but deep inside, I was like 60% confident because… the top of the key… it was my favorite spot at shooting,” she told me as we talked.
As the current Lakers continue their shootout with the Miami Heat for the 2020 NBA Championship, you can believe there’s at least one fan all the way in the Philippines—likely in a Kobe jersey, anticipating the next moment for someone to step up with the Mamba mentality, and channel the hero that we all lost back in January.
