If there is one player who has proved over and over again that hard work triumphs over talent, it’s none other than the late. Kobe Bryant. It was quite unfortunate news when people heard about the tragic passing of Kobe and that the basketball world wasn’t the same after that. But there are always those stories and witnesses about the Black Mamba, that still circulate, just reminding how ruthless he was to himself. Brian Shaw had one of those stories to share.
In the latest episode of the Podcast P with Paul George, he asked Brian Shaw whether Phil Jackson, the former 11 times NBA Championship winner coach would hold Kobe Bryant up and give a slight nudge to push him by telling him about Michael Jordan’s accomplishments as a motivation. To which Brain had yet another one of those “Kobe stories”.
On Kobe Bryant’s determination to even take over Michael Jordan, the assistant coach of the Los Angeles Clippers said,
He did say later on that he gave Michael the edge over Kobe only because Michael had bigger hands. And he could palm the ball off the dribble and do stuff that Kobe couldn't do. But even when he said that then after that came out, Kobe, every time in the locker room, had vice grips, and he was strengthening his hands so that he could try to get to the point where he could palm the ball.
As much as Phil Jackson was always careful and conscious to not hurt Kobe’s feelings, there was always that pushing factor in Kobe himself who was willing to do anything to reach that top. And rightfully so, with his determination and “Mamba Mentality”, the NBA was blessed with one of if not the best players to ever grace the court.
Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan: Who was the better player?
The Kobe Bryant vs Michael Jordan debate isn’t for the faint-hearted. If one goes into depth as to why these two icons have been in the conversation of who is better, it is advisable to start with what they have achieved
Between the two players, they both share a total of 11 Championship titles with five belonging to Kobe Bryant and six to Michael Jordan. A common attribute between the pair was how relentless and hard-working they were. From their non-stop determination to reach the top to stepping onto the pedestals of the greats, nothing gets any more iconic than how they climbed to the top. But even for the top spot, there is a battle on who deservedly claims the crown. While Kobe might lead in the offensive stats, Michael’s defensive prowess was a well-known attribute.
It is a close call with MJ slightly leading in terms of accolades and achievements, but there is no denying both have shaped the NBA, into what we call the modern game of basketball. Their legacy will remain etched in the hearts of NBA fans forever. While they get compared every now and then, it would just about be right to just appreciate them, without any comparisons.
