When describing their comeback at the end of Game 5, LeBron James famously said “It’s all about those two magic words. Game 7.”

In the NBA playoffs, each team battles an opponent from their division bracket-style, playing the best out of 7 games with the winning team advancing to the next round. It’s fairly common that each match up won’t make it all the way to Game 7 – sometimes a team will win four straight games, or they’ll battle it out through five. Making it to seven means that each team has given it their all and have an equal chance to advance. It all comes down to the final game. Or in this case, the final few seconds.

In the last minute of Game 7 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors, everything came down to a moment in time when either LeBron and crew would win the NBA championship title or lose it all, marking the 56th year that a Cleveland team had once again failed to win a professional sports championship.

In the tense final seconds of Game 7, Kyrie Irving made a three point shot that sealed the deal for the Cavs. “All I was thinking was Mamba Mentality,” he said. The internet lit up with searches. Many NBA fans may be familiar with this philosophy from another all-time NBA great — Kobe Bryant.

“We don’t quit, we don’t cower, we don’t run. We endure and conquer. That’s mamba mentality.”

-Kobe Bryant

We can draw from this mentality in order to show up as the best version of ourselves in everyday life. It can pick us up when times get rough – when we miss the shot and fall emotionally flat.

Having the ability to get back up and endure the struggle with honor and integrity is the source of real power. When we harness it, we create drive. We also take ownership of our lives that, even in incremental steps, points us in the direction of being Great.

One game at a time.

Besides, real Greatness is not defined by others. It’s our ability to become better than who we were yesterday. And set ourselves up to be even better tomorrow.

Kyrie was absent from the NBA finals a year ago when the Cavaliers faced the Warriors for the first time. Instead he was posting to social media from a hospital room where he was being treated for a knee injury. His disappointment was palpable.

Despite the injury — and countless injuries that he suffered all season long — the 24-year old did not let it get him down. He worked hard when he returned to practice, persevered in training, and showed up all season long to do what was necessary in order to bring him back to that arena floor once again.

As part of their three-game comeback (a first for the league) Kyrie scored 42 points alongside four-time NBA MVP and three-time Finals MVP LeBron James. It was the first time two players from the same team scored so many points within a single game.

Irving demonstrated mamba mentality through the critical seconds of that final game to seal the deal for the Cavaliers while marking a major milestone in the history of Cleveland sports.

We have the ability to create a similar story for ourselves. To let nothing stand in our way. To persevere, overcome setbacks and to lean on others for support. To always play to the best of our ability despite unfavorable conditions. Chances are, the odds will wind up in our favor.