Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Kinsey draws inspiration from the 'Mamba Mentality'
1/27/2020 9:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Word on the Herd
Marshall sophomore guard was saddened by the death of Kobe Bryant
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Taevion Kinsey was sitting with his teammate, Jarrod West, when he first saw the news in a group text message on his phone.
This couldn't be true, he thought. Kobe Bryant is dead?
Kinsey raced to Twitter to see if he could find a credible source with information. Then, in one heartbreaking notification, an alert from ESPN confirmed the news. Bryant, a 41-year-old basketball phenomenon who played his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, had died in a helicopter crash in California.
"My whole day changed," Kinsey said Monday afternoon, about 24 hours after the news of Bryant's death became official. "I felt like I lost a family member."
Kinsey, a sophomore on the Marshall men's basketball team who is from Columbus, Ohio, grew up watching LeBron James lift up his home state Cavaliers, so Bryant wasn't at the top of his personal list of favorite players. But, as Kinsey's game grew in recent years, he looked at the man nicknamed "Mamba" for inspiration. Bryant was lauded in the wake of his death for his tangible accomplishments – five championships, two Olympic gold medals and two NBA Finals MVPs – but many pointed toward the "Mamba Mentality" that helped Bryant reach those heights, his competitive fire and focus and will to win.
"As I get older my mindset has began to expand," Kinsey said, "Kobe meant more to me outside of basketball than inside. Mamba Mentality goes for on the court and off the court."
Kinsey referenced a quote commonly attributed to Bryant: If you're afraid to fail, you're probably going to fail. That sticks with Kinsey when he doesn't have his best game and the shots aren't falling.
"I know there's sometimes when I get discouraged and I don't have confidence and I think of that quote," he said.
So Kinsey, along with the rest of the basketball world, mourned the loss of one of the sports all-time greats.
Jon Elmore, the Marshall men's basketball program's all-time leader in scoring, assists and 3-pointers, tweeted about Bryant's passing Sunday.
"This tragedy really hurts the heart," he wrote. "You have to live for today and make the most out of every precious second. You truly never know what can happen at any moment. Spread love and enjoy life. Rest in Peace to the legend Kobe Bryant. Your impact will never be forgotten."
Marshall men's basketball great Tamar Slay, who played against Bryant in the NBA, also took to social media to share his thoughts.
"I wore #8 my first 2 years in the NBA because of you! Your impact on the 'basketball world' is 2nd (to) none. Having the opportunity to play against KOBE BRYANT is a moment I will cherish forever. Losing you this early is shocking, painful, confusing, eye-opening and sad," Slay posted to his Facebook page.
Kinsey was also sad. His mood changed. He didn't want to watch the news unfold on television or social media. He didn't pull up YouTube to watch old videos of the Lakers great. Kinsey, instead, reflected.
"It was just going to be on my heart heavy," Kinsey said. "He's changed so many lives. A lot of basketball players look up to him, but off the court he meant a lot to people. He touched a lot of people with his mindset and his work ethic and mentality. That's helped a lot of people get through some tough times."
Kinsey admits to being one of those people. He doesn't simply get better by putting up shots or maintaining his nutrition, but he feeds his mind, too. He studies the all-time greats and borrows from them. He reads about what helped them in their drive toward success. Kobe Bryant was as driven as anyone who has ever played the game of basketball, and Kinsey will carry that lesson with him throughout his career.
"Losing a person like that in such a tragic way out of nowhere is mind-blowing," Kinsey said. "I can't wrap my mind around it."
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and a eight-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).
