![\"Kobe](\"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/gettyimages-459271758-e1568309862443-1-scaled.jpg\" "\\"Kobe")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
If you aren\u2019t first, you\u2019re last. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s a line heard in sports often and there is no athlete who embodies the spirit of fierce competition more than Kobe Bryant. <\/p>\n
The 41-year-old former Los Angeles Laker has taken to coaching his daughter\u2019s AAU basketball team in retirement and recently posted on Instagram sharing a two-year-old photo of the team with a caption that bluntly addressed the team\u2019s performance and attendance. <\/p>\n
\u201cHere\u2019s our fourth place \u2018winners\u2019 picture lol,\u201d the caption reads. <\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nView this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a> <\/p>\n
Here\u2019s our fourth place \u201cwinners\u201d picture lol six of the kids in the picture stayed with me and worked every single day to get better and continue to work to this day. The 7th player (not in pic) missed this game for a dance recital so that should tell you where her focus was at this time, meaning she enjoyed dance more than ball which is fine. Now? She eats sleeps and breaths the game. So from this original group of 7 we have added a player TWO years YOUNGER (6th grade now), a player who\u2019s team in our area folded and a player who\u2019s family moved here from Tennessee. The beauty of coaching is growing the players from the ground up. That journey continues #mambas #2yearsago<\/a><\/p>\n
A post shared by Kobe Bryant<\/a> (@kobebryant) on Sep 11, 2019 at 12:03pm PDT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Bryant went on to seemingly call out one of the members of the team who opted to go to a dance recital instead of play in the team\u2019s tournament at the time and some social media users called into question the basketball legend\u2019s coaching methods while others crafted joking memes of what it might be like to play for Bryant. <\/p>\n
\u201cSix of the kids in the picture stayed with me and worked every single day to get better and continue to work to this day. The 7th player (not in pic) missed this game for a dance recital so that should tell you where her focus was at this time, meaning she enjoyed dance more than ball which is fine. Now? She eats sleeps and breathes the game.\u201d <\/p>\n
\nKobe Bryant waking up 8 year olds at 2am to shoot 5000 free throws pic.twitter.com\/Y9JAOM8Mv3<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Toxic Matthewlinity (@_MateoMontana_) September 11, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Everyone in the photo looks dejected and sad as the players hold up their fourth place trophies, but none looked more upset than Bryant. <\/p>\n
\nKobe Bryant on the first day of practice coaching his daughter\u2019s basketball team pic.twitter.com\/yRlUija7Nj<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Rudy K (@TheRealRudyK) September 12, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
But Bryant ends the post with a hopeful message: \u201cThe beauty of coaching is growing the players from the ground up. That journey continues.\u201d <\/p>\n
Bryant later clarified his comments, posting an old video showing his 12-year-old self at a dance recital with the caption: \u201cWhen I was 12, I skipped basketball for two weeks so I could dance in a school show. I\u2019m all about diversifying while young, then locking in on your passion.\u201d <\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nView this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a> <\/p>\n
When I was 12, I skipped basketball for two weeks so I could dance in a school show. I\u2019m all about diversifying while young, then locking in on your passion. #neongreen #iceicebaby #mambaout<\/a><\/p>\n