Mookie Betts, Mike Trout Credit Kobe For Their Mental Mindsets

Mookie Betts is back in the postseason and he credits everything he's built to conversations with Kobe Bryant. An interview with BODYARMOR revealed how he dealt with struggles in 2019:

"In 2019 I was struggling for awhile and I didn't know who to talk to that had been to the top. So I shot him a text and asked him how he prepared each and every day mentally and what was his way to steer away from failure," Betts said.

"He helped me and said each and every day he wants to be the best person in the gym and put on a show each and every day. When I switched my mindset to that things got a lot better."

This is all before Betts would be traded from the Boston Red Sox to Hollywood with a 12-year, $365 million deal on the way.

Mike Trout would also share a story on Bryant's impact:

"I got to meet him couple of times. The way he prepared, there is no one better. I try to do that for my game myself like Mookie said, mentally preparing yourself. There are a lot of ups and downs in sports and in baseball, there is a lot of failure, and just knowing how to put up with it."

Trout dealt with plenty team failure over the years and it's likely that Kobe's persevering advice kept him in Anaheim. Amazing to watch athletes as accomplished as Mike Trout and Mookie Betts be this open to advice from a peer.

Kobe was different

Kobe Bryant's "Mamba Mentality" wasn't just relatable to athletes at the highest level, it inspired anyone struggling. If you're fighting for a pennant in the American league or looking for a reason to make it to your day job, his mantra resonated. Betts and Trout pushed through their personal battles with Kobe in mind and so should we.

Kobe Bean Bryant left behind a family that he loved and a generation of people craving inspiration. Mamba Mentality was the perfect parting gift and it's the reason why you'll hear about it from decades to come.

RIP, Bean.