“Kobe Bryant used to call me well past midnight for advice”: Michael Jordan chronicles the time when the young Lakers star called him at odd hours to help train him

Michael Jordan talked about a young Kobe Bryant seeking his help at midnight to help train him on things like his footwork out of the post. 

Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are two names that have become synonymous with ‘success’. Championships and accolades are all that followed the two throughout their illustrious careers and the reason behind this was due to their intense desire to win at all costs. The ‘Last Dance’ chronicled this for Jordan and it was clear Kobe was cut from this same exact cloth. 

From the get-go, Kobe Bryant made it be known that not only is Michael Jordan his favorite player, but is also the inspiration behind his playstyle. As soon as a young ‘Bean’ burst onto the scene, everything from his quick drives to the rim for explosive dunks, athleticism, and tough fadeaway jumpers were reminiscent of Jordan’s. Not to mention that two shared a near, identical physical frame.

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It is even more incredible to think about the fact that the two were close friends, dating all the way back to Kobe’s sophomore year. The ‘little Laker boy’, considered Michael Jordan to be an older brother of sorts to him. 

Kobe Bryant used to call Michael Jordan past midnight to help improve his overall game. 

Michael Jordan once sat down to talk about how Kobe Bryant used to train relentlessly at odd hours in the night and would call him, looking to improve certain aspects of game. 

“He used to call me, text me, 11:30, 12:30, 3 in the morning, talking about post-up moves, footwork, and sometimes the triangle. At first, it was an aggravation, but then it turned into a certain passion.”

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It’s safe to say that Kobe put that advice to good use as he’s known to have perfected those tiny nuances in game. His footwork in the mid-range and the post was Hakeem-esque and the way he faded away to create separation was straight out of Jordan playbook. 

In the ‘Last Dance’, Kobe Bryant had a brief, heartwarming moment where he chronicled what it was like having Michael Jordan in his contacts list; an NBA legend ready to help out whenever. “I don’t get 5 championships without him because he guided me so much and gave me so much advice,” said Kobe.