Throughout his entire NBA career, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant has been compared to Michael Jordan.
The Chicago Bulls legend was a mentor for Bryant as he rose from a player fresh out of high school to an NBA icon.
Earlier this week, Bryant was asked who was the greatest competitor he ever faced in the NBA. Kobe found the question laughable and quickly answered with the obviously choice via Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Kobe Bryant & Byron Scott spoke at a Q&A for the Lakers Youth Foundation this week & I doubt this Kobe answer will surprise you…
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) March 23, 2016
Kobe Bryant was asked who's the best competitor he's ever faced in his career. He laughed: "Seriously? Michael Jordan."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) March 23, 2016
Unfortunately, Bryant and Jordan crossed paths at different stages in their careers. Jordan was nearing the end of his stint with the Bulls while Kobe was trying to make a name for himself as a teenager in Los Angeles.
Despite both players never meeting in the prime of their careers, these two NBA legends had a few epic battles on the court. Bryant soaked up the knowledge from Jordan in the short time he was able to go head-to-head against the six-time NBA champion and has praised him for being his mentor along the way.
Bryant will join Jordan in retirement in less than a month with only 12 games left on the schedule for the Lakers. Kobe will get back to work on Wednesday night playing the second game of a back-to-back against the division rival Phoenix Suns.
After Wednesday’s game, Bryant and company will host the Denver Nuggets on Friday night at the Staples Center before taking on one of Jordan’s former teams in the Washington Wizards on Sunday.