Portland Trail Blazers: A ‘Mamba Mentality’ Challenge to Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard has embraced the Mamba Mentality in his approach to the game of basketball

However, the thing with Lillard is that even if he isn’t having the best of games, his self-confidence and effort level will not be questioned. He cannot be rattled and can be counted on to always give a100 percent when he is on the floor, regardless of the scoreboard, his opponents, or how he’s been playing up to that point in the game. This “fearlessness” is a trait that Kobe Bryant noticed and commented upon after Lillard’s very first career game—a 116 -106 victory over Kobe and the Lakers.

“I think the world of him,” Bryant said, “It’s my first time really watching him play outside the preseason. He has a great, great deal of talent. Seems to be fearless. I think he has a really bright future.”

Nearly nine years later, it turns out Kobe was spot on with his assessment of Lillard, who has in turn embraced the Mamba Mentality in his approach to the game. After dropping 61 against the Dallas Mavericks in the bubble last year to keep the Blazers postseason hopes alive, he calmly told a reporter in one of the coldest interviews I’ve ever seen, “I ain’t come here to waste my time. They gave us a chance to get in like what we asked for, and that’s what we here to do. Job still ain’t done, but like I said, you know what I’m here for. We trying to get in. Our work ain’t done but we fighting for it.”

Of course, this brought fans to recall a similar Kobe interview from the 2009 Finals, when he was asked why he wasn’t smiling in the post-game press conference after being up 2-0 against the Orlando Magic, to which Bryant replied, “What’s there to smile about? Job’s not finished. Job finished? I don’t think so.”

Lillard’s effort level and competitive spirit are second to none, which is why so many Blazers fans, myself included, have such a strong belief that anything he sets his mind to, he can accomplish. Even if it’s something as difficult as winning a championship in Portland. That’s the power of the Mamba Mentality. Based on everything I’ve seen from Damian Lillard, I bet he’s already got this challenge in the back of his mind.