Growing up in Italy, Kobe Bryant idolized Michael Jordan and went to great lengths to emulate him. He incorporated every detail of Jordan’s game into his own life, from the way he licked his lips to the way he spoke. Bryant would even watch VHS tapes of Jordan’s games obsessively, borrowing them from former teammate Nick Van Exel and never returning them.

Former Laker Travis Knight remarked that Bryant wanted to be Jordan in every way possible. When they finally faced each other in the league, Jordan saw a lot of himself in the young star and they formed a lasting bond. Even after his retirement, Bryant would seek advice from Jordan on various aspects of life.

Bryant’s obsession with Jordan helped him achieve great success, including leading the Lakers to a three-peat, emulating Jordan’s iconic two three-peat runs with the Bulls. Jordan himself acknowledged that Bryant had stolen every move from his bag and claimed that Bryant would be the only player who could beat him in a one-on-one situation.

Both players are among the highest scorers in NBA history and have left a lasting impact on the game.