The Late Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan (via Open Source/X)
Michael Jordan and the late Kobe Bryant have won a combined total of 11 NBA championships during their illustrious basketball careers. Their winning mentality and how they were able to stay on top for long, and fit is something other basketball players have come to take inspiration from.
Although they shared the same winning mentality, their training approaches differed, as outlined by Tim Grover, the coach to both superstars. Grover, renowned for training some of the world’s most elite and iconic athletes, highlighted these distinctions.
Of course, there were also similarities between the two. Grover went further and said:
In recognition of their significant contributions to the sport, both players earned a spot on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. That was in addition to a plethora of All-Star selections and other individual accolades.
Kobe Bryant was obsessed with Michael Jordan
The late Kobe Bryant was well known to have a deep admiration for the Chicago Bulls legend, Michael Jordan. In an upcoming documentary about Bryant, it is unveiled that his admiration for Jordan was so profound that his former teammates frequently labeled it as an obsession. Bryant’s ambition extended to not only emulate but also surpass the achievements of MJ.
Michael Jordan (Left) and Kobe Bryant (Right) (via Open Source/X)
Eddie Jones, a teammate of Kobe Bryant’s, said:
His intensity to resemble Michael, to surpass Michael, was striking.
Van Exel explained the Bryant would try to resemble Jordan as much as he could. He explained:
Kobe mirrored everything MJ did. From something as mundane as chewing gum to walking, to his court moves and footwork. I used to own VHS tapes full of Jordan highlights. Kobe borrowed them, and I’ve never seen those tapes after that.
Of course, when it came to NBA championships, Bryant could not match Jordan. However, he spent his entire career at the LA Lakers, and has an unmatched legacy for the franchise.
