Instant Replay: Tony Finau Honors Famous Kobe Bryant Quote Ahead Of US Open

Jun 14, 2022, 1:41 PM

Tony Finau lines up a putt on the 16th green while wearing a jersey of former NBA player Kobe Bryant during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on January 30, 2020 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Bryant and his 13-year old daughter were among nine passengers killed in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

BY TREVOR ALLEN

Streaming Executive Producer and Digital Content Producer

SALT LAKE CITY – As Utah native Tony Finau is preparing for the US Open this week, he paid tribute to a famous quote by one of his idols, Kobe Bryant.

The PGA Tour posted a video on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon of Finau staring at the camera with a famous Kobe Bryant press conference during the NBA Finals playing in the background.

The press conference was after Game 2 of the 2009 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic. Bryant and the Lakers took the first two games of the series before shifting to Orlando for two games.

A reporter at the press conference asked Bryant:

“Still waiting for a big smile out of you, you’re up 2-0,” the reporter said. “What’s the story? Are you not happy? You’re only half happy or…”

Bryant responded with a famous quote that many use in their own competitions and is considered a “Mamba Mentality phrase.”

“What’s there to be happy about?” Bryant responded. “Job’s not finished. Job finished? I don’t think so.”

Job's not finished.

Mamba Mentality. pic.twitter.com/vLIPlzAb8k

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 14, 2022

The Lakers went on to win the series 4-1 and it was the first NBA title for Bryant without Shaquille O’Neal on the Lakers roster. Los Angeles started that championship run against the Utah Jazz in the first round, knocking out Deron Williams and company 4-1. Then they defeated the Houston Rockets in seven games to advance to the Western Conference Finals where they beat the Denver Nuggets in six games.

Finau has been a big fan of Kobe Bryant for years. After Bryant tragically passed away in 2020, Finau wore a No. 8 Lakers jersey during the Waste Management Phoenix Open and nailed a long putt on the 16th hole.