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Kobe Bryant went ‘beyond’ Michael Jordan in training says Phil Jackson

By Bryan Rose

February 20, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) speaks about recently deceased owner Jerry Buss before playing against the Boston Celtics at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
February 20, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) speaks about recently deceased owner Jerry Buss before playing against the Boston Celtics at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Although Kobe Bryant will sometimes suggest those in the media exaggerate his desire to be like Michael Jordan, the Black Mamba has never hidden the fact that he looked up to MJ.

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He of course isn’t the only person to do so as pretty much any kid from the 1980’s or early 1990’s did the same. Of course, most of them didn’t get a chance to play professional basketball like Kobe where Bryant could emulate his hero on a nightly basis.

But Bryant didn’t just replicate when Michael Jordan did, according to Phil Jackson, he surpassed it – at least when it came to training.

Speaking to the New York Post, Jackson suggested Kobe Bryant went ‘beyond’ Michael Jordan in regards to his attitude towards training.

"Q: Is Kobe Bryant the model for Carmelo Anthony?A: No. No one can approach that. I don’t expect anybody to be able to model their behavior after that, although Kobe modeled his behavior a lot about Michael Jordan, but he went beyond Michael in his attitude towards training, and I know Mike would probably question me saying that, but he did."

Few outside of Jackson (and members of his coaching staff) have had the opportunity to be around both Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan in their basketball element so you have to take Jackson’s comment with some strong merit.

Combine that with the knowledge of Kobe Bryant’s obsessive (almost unhealthy) work ethic and there seems to be enough evidence to believe Phil Jackson’s suggestion.

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