In his first game in an All Star, Kobe Bryant challenged Michael Jordan with the intention of showing that he was his relief in the NBA. However, he received a lesson from ‘His Airness’ who, by that time, was already mentoring ‘Black Mamba’ in basketball.
Among basketball fans and pundits, it is said that the rivalry between Michael Jordan y Kobe Bryant It is one of the most important in the history of the NBA.
‘Black Mamba’, who died in 2020 in a tragic helicopter accident, was always inspired by the legend of the Chicago Bulls. It was the call to take up the baton of ‘His Airness’, in whom he saw a mentor. But every time she was in front of him, she tried to get over him.
Well, that relationship between the two had its first big crossover 25 years ago, in the well-remembered All Star of the 1997-1998 season.
Kobe was completing his second season in the best basketball league in the world, taking the great leap in quality with the Los Angeles Lakers; while Michael would make history that year by winning his sixth ring with the Bulls: The Last Dance.
Although the two had already met four times, twice in Bryant’s rookie year and another two in the 1997-1998 season, this crossover was the center of attention.
In fact, just weeks before the All-Star Game, ‘MJ’ had scored 31 points in the 87-112 loss against the Lakers, where ‘Black Mamba’ added 20 for the Angelenos.
Previously, Bryant had scored 33 points early in the season in a loss to the Bulls, performance that impressed Jordan and led to their close relationship.
“That kid from the Lakers…”
‘Black Mamba’ had already shown his qualities in the All Star of the previous year, where he competed in the Slam Dunk and, at the age of 18, became the youngest player to win the slam dunk contest.
Getting Michael’s attention wasn’t something just any player got and, after learning of ‘His Airness’, Kobe made the most of it: asking him for advice, trying to imitate his moves and forging a friendship with the greatest basketball player of all time. time.
Jordan had no problem being the mentor of the emerging NBA figure, although more than once he wondered whether or not to continue guiding the then young Lakers player.
“Sometimes I thought, ‘Why am I giving out all this information that he’s going to use against me? But she wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t already know. I think it more or less confirmed it”, acknowledged ‘MJ’ during an interview for The Ringer.
“He was going to come for me. And I told everybody: ‘Look, I know this kid from the Lakers is going to come after me… and I’m not going to hold back.’. I felt like I had to protect something,” added the Bulls legend.
So it was. In his debut in the All-Star Game, Bryant attacked Jordan from the first minute, who arrived in cotton pads as a result of a flu condition that had him in doubt until the last hours.
Michael Jordan vs Kobe Bryant
‘MJ’ was the first to give an announcement at Madison Square Garden. With early baskets, he made it clear that he was not in for jokes and that if Kobe or anyone else wanted to get past him, he had to do his best.
‘Black Mamba’ did not want to be less. “I saw him make those two shots and I said, ‘Okay, let’s go for it.’”admitted the Lakers player after the game.
The novice figure responded by forcing a turnover from Michael and dunking the ball with a 360-degree dunk. At that moment, the countenance of ‘His Airness’ changed: he took it personally.
“I tried to defend myself from him as much as I could. He was on me very soon. I think he thought ‘if I see someone who is maybe sick or whatever, I have to attack them’. I liked his attitude, ”the face of the Bulls recounted some time later.
With the passing of the minutes, the Eastern Conference team – led by Jordan, and with stars like Grant Hill, Reggie Miller and Glen Rice in their ranks – began to take over the game, allowing ‘MJ’ to show off all his talent.
The apprentice could not surpass the master
The night in New York ended in favor of Michael Jordanwho was voted All Star MVP for the third time in his career: he scored 23 points, being the top scorer of the night, and added 6 rebounds.
Kobe BryantFor his part, he was overshadowed by ‘His Airness’ despite being the great figure of the Western Conference team, with 18 points and 6 rebounds.
Despite the above, the Bulls legend spared no praise for his rival on that February 8.
“It was almost like looking in a mirror, in a way. Why would she want to play with less? Why would he want to play against anyone less? I want to face someone I feel respect for and whom I want to challenge”, admitted ‘MJ’.
For his part, ‘Black Mamba’ never stopped praising Jordan’s game and competitive level, whom he faced again in two other All-Star Games but with the best in history wearing the Washington Wizards jersey.
This was the duel between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in the 1998 All Star:
Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan at the 1998 #NBAAllStar Game! pic.twitter.com/z4buS4p1tk
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 4, 2017
