Vladimir Radmanovic: 'Kobe Bryant was like a shark; if he sensed even a little bit of blood, it was over. He tested every single teammate to see what he could expect from them in terms of mental toughness. This involved provocations, playing dirty during practice, and even throwing 'cheap shots.' To an outsider, it might look like something was wrong with him or that he wasn't balanced, but from the inside, you realized it was a constant test. I saw players like Smush Parker fail that test. There were stories that Kobe wouldn't even speak to certain teammates outside of practice. He wanted to see if you would fold under pressure or if you would stand your ground. While some people might find that style of leadership toxic or unpleasant, it was his way of filtering who could be relied upon when the games actually mattered. He didn't just want teammates; he wanted people who could survive his environment.'
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