If there was one player that reminded basketball fans of the great Michael Jordan, it was Kobe Bryant. The Black Mamba modeled his playing style to Jordan’s something that people often criticized him for. However, this does not include Michael Jordan himself, according to Roland Lazenby’s Michael Jordan: The Life.
Advertisement
Before Kobe’s 4th ring, during the 2008 NBA Finals between LA Lakers and Boston Celtics, Kobe was told that Jordan had praised him. This led to an excited reaction from Kobe Bryant, who had his ears perked up and was visibly delighted.
Kobe Bryant’s ears perked up when he heard Michael Jordan had praised him
There are several ways in which Kobe Bryant and Jordan were similar. Both legends had a never-say-die spirit and were capable of completely taking over games.
Jordan and Bryant both had a habit of delivering when it mattered the most. The “Mamba Mentality” that Bryant became famous for was in truth an extension of the kind of spirit and attitude that Jordan encapsulated during his playing career.
During the 2008 NBA Finals, the LA Lakers were against the Boston Celtics. The Lakers would end up losing the Finals.
Bryant was still looking for his 4th ring, which he ended up winning the following year. According to Lazenby, Jordan had praised Kobe who reacted as like an autograph-hungry fan:
“Told during the 2008 championship series that Jordan had said flattering things about him, Bryant’s ears perked up immediately, almost like a kid hungry for an autograph. ‘MJ was talking about me?’ he asked. ‘That’s my man.’ It was obvious that Bryant drew support and confidence from the relationship.”
Michael Jordan saw ‘The Black Mamba’ as a “little brother”
Despite never playing together, Jordan and Bryant shared a close bond. The two had shared multiple conversations about “things nobody else understood,” according to Lazenby’s book.
When Bryant died tragically due to a helicopter crash in January 2020, Jordan claimed that a piece of him had “died as well.” The Chicago Bulls legend burst into tears and acknowledged the brotherhood between him and Bryant.
The two had immense respect for each other. Kobe and Jordan shared a master-apprentice relationship that both individuals cherished. Their special bond was down to a number of factors, including the way their first-ever meeting went.
The meeting concluded with Kobe claiming that he could kick “Jordan’s ass in a 1-on-1 game.” To this, a long-retired Jordan had responded that it was possible, considering he had stopped playing for a couple of years.
