Several interviews of family members and players that knew him best gleaned some light on what made him so exceptional and "unbeatable". He had mastered the cognitive component of the fundamentals of the game by using his unique gifts of an eidetic "photographic" memory, "sixth sense" and "field presence". At any given moment during any play of any game, he knew how it was intended to unfold, not just for his position, but for every player on the field. He would have anticipated the next move of his opponents well before they knew it themselves and would often manipulate them into a more suitable position for his offense. Even when far outmatched, he would home in and exploit the weak link of the defense to leverage an upper hand. He welcomed adversity and would actually thrive on it. What Bryant found to be so amazing was that even though he was not a superior athlete, he was always able to find the necessary resources in the exact way at the exact time to overcome the odds, "make things happen" and deliver a win. Bryant would continue to build on this foundation for the rest of his career to turn average players with average skills into exceptional players who would believe in themselves and become winners both on and off the field. p. 88, p. 90