During his formative years, Kobe Bryant, like many other children of his generation, greatly admired Michael Jordan. Jordan achieved widespread fame and recognition during the late 80s and early 90s. As Kobe embarked on his professional basketball career, he constantly aspired to emulate or even surpass Jordan. He famously expressed his desire to ‘Be Like Mike.’ This sentiment was corroborated by his Lakers teammate, Jon Barry, who shared the same locker room with Kobe during the 1997-98 season. In a podcast hosted by Ariel Helwani, Barry disclosed how Kobe would meticulously study Jordan’s game, mannerisms, and way of speaking. He also mentioned how he would incorporate them into his own style. Bryant’s dedication to watching MJ’s game highlights and post-match interviews revealed his obsession with his idol.
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Following Michael Jordan’s retirement from the league, Kobe Bryant emerged as one of the closest contenders in terms of greatness. His relentless drive and unwavering confidence in all aspects of his game mirrored MJ’s. This was a quality Kobe had developed over time. Barry’s revelations shed light on how Kobe’s personality was largely influenced by his keen observation of Jordan. Coupled with his unwavering determination to surpass him as a player.
Jon Barry reveals Kobe Bryant’s obsession with Michael Jordan
During a podcast interview with Ariel Helwani, Jon Barry, who was a teammate of Kobe Bryant during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, shared insights into Kobe’s unwavering determination to become the next Michael Jordan.
Barry recounted how a young Kobe displayed an intense obsession with MJ’s game highlights and went as far as imitating Jordan’s mannerisms while playing on the court. Notably, even as a rookie, Kobe refused to simply refer to Jordan as the ‘Black Jesus,’ but rather considered him on a comparable level to himself. Jon Barry conveyed this information while speaking to Ariel Helwani.
“Kobe was just driven a guy as I’ve ever seen. I said it back then when I played with him that I thought it was the closest thing to Michael Jordan that we’ll ever see. He sat on the plane, he rarely spoke, he would write rap music, and he would watch Michael Jordan highlights. Not just basketball highlights, interview highlights. If you notice, he tried to speak like Michael Jordan. The only thing this guy wanted, was to get as many titles and be like Michael Jordan.”
Additionally, Barry disclosed the striking resemblance between Kobe’s mannerisms and those of Michael Jordan. Whether it was his celebratory reactions to scoring a basket or his exuberant displays of victory, Kobe embodied the essence of His Airness in every way.
Even after Jordan’s retirement in 2003, Kobe’s commanding presence on the court seemed to keep the spirit of Jordan alive. This sentiment was shared by Kobe’s Lakers teammate, Shaq, who echoed Barry’s assessment by acknowledging Kobe as the player who came closest to matching the greatness of Michael Jordan.
Shaquille O’Neal believes Kobe Bryant is the closest player to Michael Jordan
Shaquille O’Neal firmly believes that Kobe was the closest player to Jordan in terms of skill and style. The dynamic duo achieved a remarkable three-peat together with the Lakers from 2000 to 2002.
When considering Kobe’s impressive statistics and high average points per game, it becomes evident why he is often compared to the great MJ.
It’s true that Jordan may have the edge over Kobe in certain aspects. However, Shaq’s statement reinforces the undeniable success of the Black Mamba in his own right.
The tragic passing of Kobe in 2020 deeply affected the entire NBA community. Even Michael Jordan himself delivered an emotional tribute to Bryant, shedding tears during his heartfelt speech.
This further highlights the immense impact Kobe had on the basketball world. And the profound respect he garnered, even from someone as legendary as Michael Jordan.
