Although many people consider the two basketball greats to be among the best of all time, Bryant was not very happy with Jordan.
It has come to light that when trying to counsel Kobe Bryant, NBA superstar Michael Jordan inadvertently unintentionally “insulted” him.
Fans are constantly debating which American player is the “GOAT,” as the two are seen as two of the greatest stars in the annals of their respective sports.
The opponents feared Jordan, who once acknowledged he would stop at nothing to win.
Despite the disagreement, Bryant received guidance on technique and mindset from Jordan, the older of the two at 61, who served as a mentor to the late player during his career.
However, Bryant didn’t always heed Jordan’s counsel with such briskness.
On “The Habershow” podcast [available on Basketball Network], LA Times reporter J.A. Adande related the story about how the 2008 MVP was affected by a single statement made by Jordan during the 1998 All-Star Game.
According to Andade, Bryant reacted violently when Jordan added, “Don’t forget to stay aggressive”.
“He mentioned something that really resonates with me—that Michael told him during the 1998 All-Star Game. At first, Kobe claimed, he thought, “What do you mean stay aggressive? Naturally, I’ll continue to be combative,” Andade declared.
“Kobe was almost insulted that Michael felt the need to tell him that.”
Like most great athletes, their ability to dominate their particular sport is a result of their unwavering confidence in themselves and their determination to always improve.
“You know, it’s your third game in five days in three cities and all of that stuff that comes with the NBA, and you’re just dragging yourself to the arena,” Adande said after Bryant finally heeded the suggestion.
“Kobe realized that this is what he’s talking about: You need to find a method to maintain your aggressiveness even in these circumstances. “Now that makes sense,” he thought.
Even though Bryant was initially nervous, Jordan’s advise appeared to be effective because the Philadelphia native concluded his playing career with a plethora of accomplishments, including five NBA Championships, two MVP awards from the NBA Finals, and eighteen selections to the NBA All-Star team.
Before passing away in January 2020 at the age of just 41, Bryant further solidified his reputation by winning two gold medals at the Olympics in Beijing and London.
In addition to his exceptional skill on the court, Jordan was also well-known for having an elite mindset. He famously declared, “I play to win, whether it’s in practice or a real game.” And I’m determined to succeed, and I won’t allow anything stand in my way.”
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