Kobe Bryant was one of the greatest players of all time, a born and fierce competitor who left no stone unturned on the court. He was also an indomitable talent, who from his NBA debut sought to leave his mark on the league. And he succeeded.
A unique competitive spirit, perhaps the greatest the NBA has ever seen, his legend always grew in the shadow of comparisons to Michael Jordan. "I don't want to be the next Jordan, I just want to be Kobe Bryant," he would say on the subject.
Although he always denied it, the no.24 spent a lot of time imitating the legendary no.23's game and moves. This is what Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett had to say about Kobe on ShowTime Basketball.
"He was obsessed," Garnett said. "He chose 24 because of Jordan. He picked it because in his mind he was above Michael. The 24 over the 23. It was a shot at Jordan."
A hypothesis, to say the least, a curious one. Kobe's obsession to win was always compared to that of Michael. That mirror in which he looked at himself and Jordan was the player he wanted to match and surpass at all costs: "Every record that Jordan had, Kobe chased it," says Garnett. Considering Bryant's personality, it is quite feasible that the story told by Garnett is true. Or, conversely, it may be mere coincidence.
Millions of kids grew up wanting to be Jordan. They all dreamed of sticking their tongues out as they flew to the hoop. For the past 25 years there has been one constant in basketball: finding the new Michael Jordan.
The search has been as inevitable as it has been futile, and has done more harm than good to the careers of several players.
