Kobe Bryant was crushed on Twitter Wednesday for an Instagram comment he made about a girl who missed a game on the girls’ basketball team he coaches.
Bryant has four daughters and coaches one, Gianna (Gigi), at basketball. Bryant frequently posts photos of the teams he coaches and touts how his “Mamba Mentality” and coaching style has helped them improve. For instance, he recently boasted that one of his teams beat an opponent they’d lost to 22-21 two years ago, by a score of 115-27 this time.
On Wednesday, he shared a new post on Instagram that shows how dissatisfied his players were by finishing in fourth place two years ago. He says many of the girls have remained with him to work hard and improve.
Here’s the caption: “Here’s our fourth place “winners” picture lol six of the kids in the picture stayed with me and worked every single day to get better and continue to work to this day. The 7th player (not in pic) missed this game for a dance recital so that should tell you where her focus was at this time, meaning she enjoyed dance more than ball which is fine. Now? She eats sleeps and breaths the game. So from this original group of 7 we have added a player TWO years YOUNGER (6th grade now), a player who’s team in our area folded and a player who’s family moved here from Tennessee. The beauty of coaching is growing the players from the ground up. That journey continues #mambas #2yearsago”.
What’s wrong with that caption? Nothing. But that wasn’t Bryant’s original caption. Bryant’s original caption led some to believe he was shading the girl for missing basketball for a dance recital.
“The 7th player missed this game for a dance recital so that should tell you where her focus was at this time,” Bryant’s original caption said.
DAMN, COACH KOBE!
"The 7th player missed this game for a dance recital so that should tell you where her focus was at this time." pic.twitter.com/kekErfRBmR
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 11, 2019
After receiving negative feedback and realizing people thought he was throwing shade at the girl, Bryant clarified and edited his caption.
https://t.co/HISwDvyeAI pic.twitter.com/EoJpfRf56I
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 11, 2019
Kevin O’Connor even pointed out how Kobe seemingly taking aim at a girl for choosing dance over basketball went against Bryant’s stated beliefs about the benefits of young kids doing multiple sports and activities, which was evidenced by his review of David Epstein’s book, “Range.”
Kobe's review of Range vs. Kobe's review of his team pic.twitter.com/uWIkHVmZi9
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) September 11, 2019
Kobe may have corrected things, but not before the Twitter mob came after him. He really is a different dude, which is why the Mamba Army loves him.
