“Initially he was an irritant but then it became ‘man it’s a sign of respect’” Michael Jordan gets blunt and honest on Kobe Bryant calling him late in the night for advice
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Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant
It is always an honour to share the same stage with your idol. A champion whom you have always admired since childhood, there surely is no better feeling that to compete against the same. Similar was the feeling of Kobe Bryant, who always saw Michael Jordan as his elder brother, inspiration and as per the latest revelation, adviser.
Both Kobe and Michael Jordan shared a special bond. But the Chicago Bulls great went onto reveal how the Lakers marquee used to pester him. Even Scottie Pippen stressed upon how badly Kobe Bryant wanted to emulate MJ. However, he believes that the late NBA star went onto become even better.
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What was opinionated by Michael Jordan?
On the latest episode of Ringer’s Icons Club podcast, it was revealed that Michael Jordan first saw young Bryant as an irritant before ultimately choosing to help however possible. Although Michael Jordan extended the invitation, asking Bryant to call if he needed anything, the Bulls legend got annoyed with the calls at one point because the Laker called at odd hours.
He stated, “At first he was an irritant but then secondly, it became, man, it’s a sense of respect, you know, and I respect him for that, and from that point on, it was like, I’m gonna do whatever I can to help him out.
“Yeah, I would lay in my bed after talking to him. And I mean, that’s pretty cool. But yeah, I don’t know if I could have done that, where I’m bleeding information from someone, and at times, I’ve thought about why am I giving away all this information that he’s gonna use right against me? It’s almost like protecting the book of professionalism, but for whatever reason, no matter how I start the conversation, he knew the answer. It wasn’t like I was telling him anything that he didn’t know. I think I was more or less confirming it.”
Michael Jordan ended by humorously stating that the one thing he regrets teaching Kobe is the turn-around fadeaway jumper.
“The one thing that I did give him that I felt like I regretted, but then again I appreciated was the turn around fade away. He learned my move, and he learned that to a point where he would use it relentlessly, especially when you know you’re getting double-teamed. You feel like you’re in a good rhythm. I took great pride in seeing him utilize that. Even though he didn’t do it against me that much.”
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Yakshpat Bhargava
(3989 Articles Published)