“He Had Everything on Michael Jordan in His VCR”: 21-year-old Kobe Bryant Would Study MJ Clips in Restaurants Says John Salley

Kobe Bean Bryant was the biggest student in the game of basketball. In his quest to be like Michael Jordan, the 6ft 6’ shooting guard did some things that no other sportsman had done prior to him or since.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ #13 pick of the 1996 Draft came into the league as an 18-year-old with the potential of becoming something. He didn’t get too much playing time in his rookie and sophomore years, but in two more years, by the time he was 22, Bryant had become a superstar in the making.

An NBA champion, 2-time All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive First Team at an age the players at the time used to declare for the draft. How did he do it? The man was literally in a routine of “eat, sleep, basketball, repeat!” while studying the GOAT of the game. Even in restaurants!

Also read: “Kobe Bryant Was a Gym Rat at 19”: Tracy McGrady Revealed ‘Eat, Sleep, Basketball’ Mantra of Lakers Star, Which Inspired Him to Succeed

John Salley reveals a Kobe Bryant Michael Jordan story

In a recent episode of All The Smoke podcast, a former Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan teammate, John Salley reminisced about his time with both the superstars and described Kobe’s hunger for learning the game at age 21.

When the rest of the world celebrates its legal drinking age, The Black Mamba was watching MJ and other legends of the game on his VCR and Salley was with him to see him do it inside a restaurant.

“He (Kobe) had everything on Michael on his VCR,” 4x NBA champ told Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, revealing how Bryant watched all of MJ’s broken-down clips on his VCR while Salley suggested him to study his own father – Joe Bryant.

Watching videos in a restaurant is not something unusual these days. But back in 2000, it wasn’t as common. People would consider it an offense to everyone around if somebody would be watching or listening to something rather than enjoying the food.

But Kobe was Kobe. Nobody could tell him what to do.

Also read: “I’m Going to Call My Parents!”: Kevin Durant Surpasses Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan, Can’t Hide His Giddiness

How Bryant redefined the work ethic in the NBA

The National Basketball Association has had some of the wildest athletes throughout history. Even Bryant himself played with and against some of them – Dennis Rodman, Allen Iverson, Shaquille O’Neal, etc.

However, when Kobe became a superstar and Mamba Mentality became a thing, players in the league have since made it a point to apply it to their lifestyle.

Also read: “Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Hakeem Olajuwon Will Get Swept”: Shaquille O’Neal backs himself, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in a 7-game Series

About the author

Akash Murty

An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

Read More