It isn’t often that we see two similar players come into the NBA. Players may have a few similar qualities, but their outlook is different. However, with Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, the case is totally different. Looking at Kobe was similar to looking at MJ. The ‘Mamba’ modeled his game after Jordan to such a degree that it was almost picture-perfect.
But were they any similar outside the court? The one thing that is sure is that they worked hard outside the NBA. Both gave it all to the sport and became a part of the greatest players to play the game. However, what about the time they weren’t playing basketball? Were Jordan and Kobe similar as people as well?
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Recently, Kwame Brown appeared on the B High ATL podcast. He spoke about how similar the two were, but at the same time, were also a lot different.
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Michael Jordan is a regular person who can hoop
While speaking on the podcast, Brown spoke about the two greats. Brown got the opportunity to lay with both Jordan and Bryant in his tenure with the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Lakers. While he did reveal that on the court they had a similar character, outside is a completely different story.
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Kwame Brown explained: “On the court, they are the exact same personality, and in the locker room, Kobe couldn’t do what MJ did. I don’t know how MJ was able to move around without security. You could see MJ in the local casino, a local bar with this little short guy. Kobe, on the other hand, not so much, and I didn’t get to see him on a personal side like that. It’s almost like Kobe studied MJ cause they were so similar in practices and when we went for dinners, but that is about that. MJ is just a regular dude; he is a regular guy that can hoop.”
Bryant never lost his focus on the game. His sole focus was to be the best, and that is all he did. The ‘Mamba’ wanted to emulate Jordan, so he kept studying him. On the other hand, Michael Jordan had other interests as well. Jordan took part in golf, he went out. However, when it was time to work, there was no one who would work harder than he did.
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While Kwame didn’t get to know Kobe on the personal side, Bryant wanted to leave no stones unturned, and he made many sacrifices doing so. At the end of the day, both are legends of the game who will be remembered forever for their impact on the game.