Spurs' Bryn Forbes grateful for gift from Pau Gasol

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SAN ANTONIO - Spurs guard Bryn Forbes doesn't make many stops at book stores or libraries.

"I'm not a big reader," he said.

But when a teammate gave him a book as a gift recently, Forbes couldn't put it down.

The teammate: Pau Gasol. The book: Kobe Bryant's "The Mamba Mentality: How I Play."

Forbes said he's learned a lot from the book, which includes a forward by Gasol, who left the Spurs last week after a contract buyout.

On ExpressNews.com: Spurs bid adios to Gasol

"Just how he approached the game and the way he prepared," Forbes said of his biggest takeaways from the book. "He talks about, 'When I was younger I did things this way. But when I got older, I learned how to do them another way that was more efficient and better.' "

"Mamba Mentality," with photographs by Andrew D. Bernstein, also details Bryant's mastery of the art of staying focused on a goal and the power of positive thinking, something Forbes credits for helping him work his way out of a recent shooting slump.

In the final five games of the rodeo road trip, Forbes shot just 18.5 percent from 3-point range (5 of 27), including hitting just 2 of 14 from downtown in the final two games in New York City.

But in the last two games, wins over Detroit and Oklahoma City, he hit a combined 5 of 7 (71.4 per-cent) from distance, including a 3-of-5 showing that fueled his 14-point performance in Saturday's 116-102 win over the Thunder.

Spurs' Pau Gasol (16) congratulates Bryn Forbes (11) after a score against the Charlotte Hornets in the second half at the AT&T Center on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Spurs defeated the Hornets, 108-101. (Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News) less Spurs' Pau Gasol (16) congratulates Bryn Forbes (11) after a score against the Charlotte Hornets in the second half at the AT&T Center on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Spurs defeated the Hornets, 108-101. (Kin Man ... more Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 36 Caption Close Spurs' Bryn Forbes grateful for gift from Pau Gasol 1 / 36 Back to Gallery

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"Change your mindset, that's all it is," Forbes said. "I honestly just started thinking good thoughts. Negative thinking can put you in a slump. Positive thinking can get you right back out."

Forbes said he also benefited from getting some rest after exiting Wednesday's 105-93 win over the Pistons with a right calf contusion he suffered in the first quarter. It was a much-needed break for the third-year pro from Michigan State, who has played in all 64 games this season.

"Later in the season, your body wears down and negative thoughts creep in," Forbes said. "You just got to be free. It's about controlling your mind. In the last two days (after the calf injury), I just had to sit down, something I haven't done in a long time. I just sat down and didn't do anything. Got away from it. That helps. I knew I had to step back from it and clear my mind."

But he didn't stop reading "The Mamba Mentality," grateful all the while for the generosity of a friend who also gave him a few other books to read.

"Pau is one of a kind – a great dude," Forbes said.