Well, if you're top 10 all-time, you are allowed to choose your own nickname. Although I remember when he chose that nickname. Black Mamba, a black snake that strikes at his prey...as he was being charged in Colorado for sexual assault. Probably could have waited a bit to pull that one out of the bag.
Lol my first thought when Kobe chose Black Mamba was, “did he just steal a nickname from Kill Bill?!”
OG Black Mamba was Roger Mayweather. Then Marvel's Black Mamba came in June 1980. Then Kill Bill and then Kobe.
Austin 3:15 is hilarious to me being a huge wrestling mark but it could also sounds he missed 12 and made only 3
Without even reading it: it's called fatigue. He's not ready for 82 games and NBA conditioning is most significant and required next step of his development. He'll hold up better this year than last, but I think he's 1 year away from being able to maintain at a high level for 82 + playoffs.