Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan had all the competitive spirit in the world.
Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan are considered to be two the best basketball players all time. During their respective careers, they displayed a tremendous amount competitiveness and consistently got under the skin their opponents. Unfortunately, Bryant recently passed away in a helicopter crash and the basketball world is still mourning. Numerous incredible stories about Bryant have surfaced over the last couple months and the latest comes courtesy Chicago Bulls writer, Sam Smith.
During a AMA, Smith explained how Bryant and Jordan had a get-together in 2005 and it led to a challenge that both players never forgot. Even in his retired state, Jordan couldn’t resist the challenge Bryant was presenting him with.
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Per Smith:
“One my favorite stories ever, which was more about Kobe, which was MJ and Kobe weren’t close, and Phil Jackson (coaching the Lakers) invited Michael to meet Kobe and talk to him a little bit. They arranged for a suite at the arena. Michael was there with Phil and Jerry West – this was after he retired from the Wizards so it’d be about 2005, maybe. Kobe walks in and challenges Michael to a game and tells him to put on a uniform and go down to the court and that he would kick his ass. Michael course was out shape and not at his playing weight, sitting smoking a cigar despite the no-smoking rule in the arena. And course, Michael was ready to go. They didn’t wind up playing, but the fire flared up.
They shared a competitiveness that’s been unseen by anybody else in the last 15 years.”
Stories like this one will certainly help put a smile on your face in these uncertain times. With no basketball on TV, these little anecdotes provide a nice diversion from everything else.
Via]