Most great players wind up with a nickname bestowed upon them somewhere along the way in their career. Larry Bird was “Larry Legend.” Michael Jordan was “MJ.” Hakeem Olajuwon was “The Dream.” LeBron James is simply, “The King.”
Kobe Bryant, however, had to adopt his own: Black Mamba. It’s a fitting moniker, no doubt, but it’s goofy at the same time. Still, Kobe has drilled it into our heads so much that it’s stuck. Even Lil Wayne used it in a verse: “Black mamba. Attack, conquer…” he rapped. So Kobe, through the same stubbornness that has made him such a great player, has come to be symbolized by a snake. A venomous and highly deadly one at that.
It makes sense, then, that Kobe’s Pokemon comparison should also be a snake. Which is why Kobe Bryant is Arbok. And okay, so look, I realize Arbok is technically a cobra, but there are no black mamba pokemon, so it will have to do.
Besides just both being snakes, Kobe and Arbok even have the same coloring patterns: yellow and purple. But the comparisons go deeper than just simple, obvious observations. For one, Arbok’s two main abilities are intimidate and unnerve. Perfect. Whether it’s his opponents or teammates, Kobe is adept at doing both of those things. It can be a pain, especially if you’re on his team, but it also helped him become one of the best players in the league.
Furthermore, it is said of Arbok, that, “With a vengeful nature, it will not give up a chase once it targets its prey or an opponent, no matter how far.” This is the exact attitude Kobe takes when chasing a ring. Rings are his prey, and he’ll do anything to get another one, no matter how high the odds.
If there was doubt in your mind before, there can be no doubt now: Kobe Bryant is Arbok.