Kobe Bryant didn't show any signs of nervousness when meeting his idol Michael Jordan and surprised onlookers with a comment he made to the Chicago Bulls legend when they crossed paths for the first time.
Bryant, whose playing career began in 1996, enjoyed a glittering 20-year career with the LA Lakers, winning five NBA Championships, and is widely regarded as one of the best players the sport has ever seen.
He largely modelled his game on Jordan and even changed his jersey number from 8 to 24 in an attempt to emulate a player he looked up to.
Most people meeting their idols might show signs of shyness or nerves but not Bryant, who decided to lay down the gauntlet to the former NBA icon ahead of the 1999/2000 season.
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Former Bulls boss Phil Jackson revealed in his book “Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success” that he helped arrange a meeting between Jordan and Bryant.
Jackson then went on to tell a story that spoke volumes about Bryant’s confidence in his own ability.
"Here's a private story,” Jackson began.
“Kobe was young and I asked MJ to come [to Lakers practice] and talk to Kobe a little bit. MJ comes in and sits down. Kobe walks over and says, 'I can kick your ass 1 on 1'. MJ said, 'You just might'. There was no conversation.”
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Jackson has been on record as describing Bryant as the only player to truly meet Jordan's standards on the court, having been a shared mentor for both players during their careers.
He won six NBA Championships during his time as Chicago Bulls coach between 1989 and 1998, the last of which was made into the famous documentary on Netflix, ‘The Last Dance’.
The legendary coach would go on to win three NBA Championships as Lakers boss, having left the Bulls in 1998, with three of Bryant’s five trophies coming under the legendary coach as the Lakers completed a 'threepeat' between 2000 and 2002.
'Redeem Team' honoured
The US Team of 2008 was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this month, owing to their gold medal success at the Beijing Olympics.
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The US Men’s team had endured a downturn in fortunes, but the ‘Redeem Team’ went all the way in China to bring the gold stateside.
The team, which included LeBron James, Bryant and Dwyane Wade, among others, was inducted into the Hall of Fame earlier this month.
“USA Basketball is thrilled to see the 2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame,” USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said.
“The Redeem Team’s celebrated run in Beijing marks a pivotal moment in U.S. men’s Olympic basketball history and has propelled us to five straight gold medals.”
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The occasion, though, is tinged with sadness owing to the absence of Bryant, who lost his life in a helicopter accident in 2020.
Topics: Basketball, Olympics, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, NBA
Ben McAleer