Kobe Bryant says Michael Jackson tried to make him meditate

Jan 22, 2014; Coral Gables, FL, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant watches the game between the Duke Blue Devils Miami Hurricanes in the first half at BankUnited Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2014; Coral Gables, FL, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant watches the game between the Duke Blue Devils Miami Hurricanes in the first half at BankUnited Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports /
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When Kobe Bryant came out of Lower Merion High School, he was already a star. This is the same dude that ended up taking Brady (who at the time was about as popular as one can be) to his prom. Needless to say, Kobe had plenty of swag as teenager.

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In fact, Kobe Bryant had so much pull that the Michael Jackson attempted to teach Kobe Bryant the art of mediation when he was just 18-years-old. Sound too over the top to be belieable? Well believe it as Kobe Bryant told the New York Times about the unique encounter.

"PG: Speaking of breaking things down, I noticed, reading “Thrive,” that the pillars of wellness must be second nature to athletes, who are all about peak performance. You meditate?KB: [N.B.A. coach] Phil Jackson introduced me to it. When I was 18, Michael Jackson tried to get me to meditate. He could sit in meditation for seven hours. But I couldn’t sit still for 20 minutes.PG: Michael Jackson?KB: Yeah. “Thriller” Michael Jackson."

Judging by the tone of Kobe Bryant’s response it doesn’t seem as if the Black Mamba was overly receptive of Michael Jackson’s request, though eventually took it up on the request by former head coach Phil Jackson as noted above.

To have been a fly on the wall during a conversation between Michael Jackson and Kobe Bryant.

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