Episode 09 — Andrew D. Bernstein
In Episode 09 of the Shoot Wisely podcast, I sit down with legendary NBA photographer Andrew D. Bernstein to talk about a career spent documenting basketball history from courtside.
We discuss his close friendship and working relationship with Kobe Bryant and the process of creating the book The Mamba Mentality — a project built on years of trust, access, and shared vision. Andy reflects on capturing Kobe’s mindset, discipline, and evolution both on and off the court.
We also dive into photographing Michael Jordan throughout his career, and what it was like watching those moments resurface in The Last Dance. From witnessing historic championships to defining cultural moments, Andy shares what it means to document greatness in real time.
The conversation also explores his technical innovation — including introducing strobes and flash photography into live NBA action — a move that reshaped the visual language of professional basketball photography.
This episode is about proximity to greatness, technical mastery, and earning trust at the highest level of sport.
In This Episode
- Building a trusted relationship with Kobe Bryant
- The making of The Mamba Mentality
- Photographing Michael Jordan’s career
- Watching history replayed in The Last Dance
- Introducing flash/strobe photography to live NBA games
- Capturing iconic moments from courtside
- The responsibility of documenting legends
About the Guest
Andrew D. Bernstein is a pioneering NBA photographer whose career spans decades of basketball history. Known for his innovation in lighting and unparalleled access to the game’s biggest stars, his images have helped define how the world sees professional basketball.