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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens catches a ball during a training camp practice on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.<\/p>\n
Smiley N. Pool\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
OXNARD, Calif. \u2014 There’s a difference in\u00a0Dallas Cowboys<\/a> wide receiver George Pickens this training camp. Sure, he’s still making the highlight-reel catches that prophesized his breakout season a year ago. He still has the fun-loving, sometimes aloof antics of a receiver who seems carefree. It’s been showcased in his post-catch celebrations \u2014 he threw one touchdown catch into the stands Sunday, for example \u2014 and even his attempt at trying to catch from the jug machine with a net over his face. One missed catch was all\u00a0Pickens needed to see before he removed the net.<\/p>\n “I was like, ‘Nah, I don’t really need to use that,’ ” Pickens said, sparking a laugh from listening media members.\u00a0<\/p>\n Pickens did find something he could use, however. Coaches and teammates will tell you\u00a0Pickens \u2014 heading into a franchise-tagged, one-year-deal season<\/a> \u2014 has been more focused than ever since the Cowboys acquired him last offseason. A newly channeled inspiration could be the reason for it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n “I just feel like the older I’m getting, the more I’m getting the Kobe Bryant thing,” Pickens told 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM) earlier in training camp. “Who cares if it’s hard, you have to do it. The older you get, from the kid, the whining of every little thing \u2014 even if it’s taking out the trash because your mom told you to take out the trash. Now, I’m just focused on the chess match, winning games, because playoffs changes everybody’s life.<\/p>\n “If you’re going to do it, just do it \u2014 the full thing and do every little intricate thing.”<\/p>\n Pickens has talked multiple times this offseason about channeling Bryant and his famous “Mamba Mentality.” Bryant wrote a book about it and how the 6-foot-6 guard became one of the\u00a0winningest players in NBA history. Bryant ended his career with five NBA titles, an MVP, and 18 trips to the NBA All-Star Game.\u00a0<\/p>\n Pickens’ appreciation for Bryant is actually contrary to his main NBA star allegiance.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I’ve always been kind of a LeBron [James] guy,” said Pickens, who celebrated his 25th birthday in March. “I’ve always been a LeBron fan, still to this day. But definitely the components from Kobe’s mentality was something that was different than any other athlete. LeBron said it himself. [Michael] Jordan said it himself. His mentality was different. That’s kind of when I was mentioning it the other day, having a drive mentality.”<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n For the record: Pickens still has a clear pick for who he believes is the best player of all time. He said it’s James, adding that James was the dominant superstar of his generation, much to the chagrin of some older media members in attendance at Pickens’ Saturday news conference. Pickens also said he sees a lot of himself in James.\u00a0<\/p>\n Like James, Pickens has unique athleticism. They’re in different sports, and have different physical builds, but both of them, seemingly, can do things that other people can’t.\u00a0<\/p>\n It’s part of the reason\u00a0Pickens says he’s been drawn to Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality.” Bryant wasn’t a slouch in the athleticism department. He, too, had plenty. But it was Bryant’s mentality and his drive that became his legacy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Pickens says he didn’t read Bryant’s book, adding that he’s not much of a reader. He has watched many videos about it, however. The more he watched, the more he liked.\u00a0<\/p>\n “The mentality he had was beyond everybody,” Pickens said. “And that’s what drove him to championships.”<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Ultimately, the Mamba inspiration from Bryant has inspired Pickens to hone in on the details, he said. It’s not something that was necessarily on point a year ago. Pickens was fined for being late to meetings last year<\/a>. He even missed the team bus to the game in Las Vegas, resulting in him and CeeDee Lamb being held out of the first series of that Monday night win over the Raiders<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) celebrates a catch past defensive back P.J. Locke (1) during a training camp practice on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.<\/p>\n Smiley N. Pool\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Pickens still finished with nine catches for 144 yards and a touchdown in that game. Overall, he finished with the third-most receiving yards in the league, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. All three statistics were career highs for\u00a0Pickens, who earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl.\u00a0<\/p>\n But if Pickens could be that good when the details weren’t necessarily a priority, how good could he be if they were? It’s something people around the Cowboys have wondered. It’s a change some are seeing.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I’ve watched it,” said Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. “I’m watching him over there take notes and talk to young guys, be as locked in as I’ve ever seen him, and it’s already showing out there on the field. It’s impressive. He knows what this year is for him individually. He knows what this year means for the team. He wants to contribute. He’s one of the best teammates I’ve been around in his energy and how he shows up for the team.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n “He’s just taking another level.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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