Taking cues from Michael Jordan, one of his idols,
Bryant played with a swagger that compelled him to talk trash,
to guard the toughest opponents,
to play through pain
and to demand the ball at the biggest moments of games.

应该是要球(准备单打)的意思也可以理解为"跳出来接管比赛"

主宰球赛demand(控制=主宰) ball(球赛)在最重要的时刻主宰球赛~

若你打过篮球的话，应该知道在关键时刻向队友“要球”，需要多大的勇气，所以大概就是“承担重责大任”的意思