Includes index.

Foreword / Pau Gasol -- Introduction / Phil Jackson -- Process -- Craft -- Facts & figures -- Chronology -- Afterword / Andrew D. Bernstein.

In the wake of his retirement from professional basketball, Kobe "The Black Mamba" Bryant shares his vast knowledge and understanding of the game. Citing an obligation to teach young players, hardcore fans, and devoted students of the game how to play it "the right way," The Mamba Mentality takes us inside the mind of one of the most analytical and creative basketball players ever. Bryant reveals his famously detailed approach and the steps he took to prepare mentally and physically to not just succeed at the game, but to excel. Readers learn how Bryant studied an opponent, how he channeled his passion for the game, how he played through injuries. They also get granular detail as he breaks down specific plays and match-ups from throughout his career.