A decade has passed since the world watched Kobe Bryant walk off the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) floor for the final time. While his tragic passing in 2020 left a void in the sports world, the “Mamba Mentality” has only intensified. Today, the Bryant Stibel venture capital fund remains a powerhouse in the tech and media space, and Kobe’s influence is seen in every “fading away” jumper in the NBA.
Reflecting on that legendary 60-point finale against the Utah Jazz, NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens remains one of the most vocal supporters of Bryant’s uncompromising approach to the game.
A Career Built on “The Chip”
Owens, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018, knows a thing or two about being misunderstood. With 153 touchdowns and 15,934 receiving yards—still holding firm near the top of the NFL’s all-time record books—T.O. sees a kindred spirit in the 5-time NBA champion.
“He brought that desire, passion, and hunger to the game,” Owens told me. “To be with one organization for the whole tenure of his career, it’s kind of unheard of. I think you have another guy who has done that in Tim Duncan; 19 years with one organization.”
Shared Fire and Shared Friction
Both Owens and Bryant faced intense media scrutiny during their active years. Owens famously dealt with the fallout of his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, while Bryant weathered high-profile feuds with Shaquille O’Neal and Phil Jackson. To Owens, that friction wasn’t a flaw—it was a byproduct of greatness.
“You see a guy that was dedicated to his craft, to the point where people felt that he alienated some of his peers,” Owens noted. “But to be at that level and to encompass some of the things that he has accomplished, you have to be that way. You have to have that chip on your shoulder.”
The Ultimate Lesson for the New Generation
As we look at the NBA and NFL stars of 2026, Owens believes the blueprint for success was written in that final 60-point outburst in April 2016. It wasn’t just about the points; it was about the refusal to go out quietly.
“To watch that and witness him drop 60, that was the epitome of his career,” says Owens. “For those young guys that watched that live, if they didn’t get anything from that season, that game alone should have shown them why Kobe was Kobe.”
While “Mamba Out” were the final words spoken on the court, the “Mamba Mentality”—as T.O. reminds us—is a fire that never actually goes out.
