Los Angeles Lakers: 3 NBA players that have Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality

3. Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler has a type of attitude that Kobe Bryant could relate to. Similar to Kobe, Jimmy Butler has been known to be tough on teammates in order to get the most out of them. He has a tough demeanor that is shown both on and off the court.

Butler, the last pick of the first round in the 2011 NBA draft, had to battle in order to get to where he is today. He quickly became known as one of the best two-way players in the league. Butler is one of the few players that has the capability of locking down the opposing team’s best player while being a threat on offense.

One of the most well-known Jimmy Butler stories was his hard-nosed attempt to motivate his teammates while he was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. During team practice, Butler took some of the players that were deep on the roster and challenged fellow star teammates Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski in 2018, Jimmy Butler targeted the front office, telling them “you can’t win without me.”

This type of attitude is reminiscent of Kobe Bryant’s infamous practice stories, where he would often trash talk his teammates. While most people may take offense to such behavior, Jimmy Butler has shown that he is not afraid to do what is needed in order to win.