Summary

In “Metta Realized Our Team was Different,” the focus of text and images is on Kobe’s relationship with teammate Metta World Peace. The image is of Peace and Kobe defending against an opposing player. In the text, Kobe describes how the relationship began, with him telling him that he “needed [Peace] to be present mentally … ready to compete in every drill, to work every second, and to win every scrimmage” (188). He describes his admiration for Peace’s skill, how they would plan defenses together, and how others were intimated by Peace, but he was not.

In “Doubled Down,” the central image is of Kobe surrounded by defenders. In the accompanying text, Kobe references his consistent, frequent determination to get the ball to the basket, and how opponents would assume that that was what he was going to do. He then discusses how...