Kobe Bryant clearly molded his game around Michael Jordan. There is no denying the similarities between the two. But, to be fair to Bryant, any sport functions on a similar code. The new generation can only perfect what came before them. Knowing how MJ changed the entire game, it is no wonder the generation that came after him tried to mimic his game.
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Kobe Bryant was one of the dozens of Michael Jordan ‘wannabes.’ Perhaps wannabe is too harsh a term. Bryant was a member of a wave of players hoping to play just like Michael Jordan. However, no one did it as well as the 6ft 6″ Lakers legend, who was fascinatingly the same height as Michael.
Every pundit, player, and fan couldn’t help but note the similarities between MJ and Kobe’s style of play. Even Michael believed that his style of play, not just similar, was as fearsome as his. However, at the same time, he believed that there were some clear distinctions between the two.
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Michael Jordan concluded Kobe Bryant was different than him
In Michael Jordan: The Life, MJ’s biography, author Roland Lazenby dedicated quite a few pages to Kobe Bryant. The brilliant sports writer wrote in detail about the similarities and stories of Jordan and Bryant.
One of the excerpts focussed on how MJ perceived the young star. In the excerpt, Jordan clearly confessed the similarities but claimed they were still different.
Roland Lazenby: “In conversation, it quickly became obvious that Jordan respected Bryant, without any hint of condescension. He respected any player who did the work, who had the mental toughness. Bryant passed both those tests, he said. “So he’s not one that’s so different than me, but he is different than me. People just have to understand that, and realize that you may see a lot of similarities, but he’s definitely different.”
MJ defended Bryant’s legacy
As Bryant rose, MJ’s fans shared their dismay. They believed he had only evolved to such heights by mimicking Michael’s game. However, Jordan disagreed.
He believed that it was human nature to mimic and evolve. He also claimed that he too had taken inspiration from his predecessors. Taking inspiration wasn’t mimicry and Michael knew this all too well.
Michael Jordan explained: “But how many people lighted the path for me? That’s the evolution of basketball. There’s no way I could have played the way I played if I didn’t watch David Thompson and guys prior to me. There’s no way Kobe could have played the way he’s played without watching me play. So, you know, that’s the evolution of basketball. You cannot change that.”
It’s heartwarming to see how respected Kobe Bryant was in Michael’s eyes. He thought of the youngster as a certified legend and no pundit could take that away. After all, Bryant had the seal of Jordan’s approval.
