Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen briefly restrained Dennis Rodman to prevent an altercation with Shaquille O’Neal during their first meeting with Kobe Bryant

Modified at 04:26 GMT on September 26, 2023

On December 17, 1997, the Chicago Bulls, consisting of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, faced Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. This is a game that most basketball fans want to watch because it is Kobe’s first game against his idol Jordan. It’s a regular-season game in Chicago, but it gets even more exciting as the defending champions take on a young and talented Lakers team.

Los Angeles got off to a fast start led by O’Neal and Nick Van Exel. He led 36-33 after the first quarter and entered the second half with a 72-57 lead. Jordan, Pippen and Rodman led the team’s comeback, and they performed well in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime.

In overtime, Shaquille O’Neal and Dennis Rodman nearly fell into trouble. With 20.7 seconds left in the game and the Lakers trailing 125-123, Rodman grabbed a key rebound after a big defensive stop. Eldon Campbell fouled “The Worm” before the pushing play.

O’Neal tried to tackle the Bulls power forward, who was grabbed by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen and eventually fell to the ground. Jordan and Pippen prevented a possible technical foul and possible ejection from Rodman.

Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant had a quiet night. He played 10 minutes as a substitute for Eddie Jones and scored 5 points, 1 rebound and 1 block.

Michael Jordan, on the other hand, scored a game-high 30 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block after playing 47 minutes.

---

Kobe Bryant continues to struggle in Game 2 against Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls

On February 5, 1998, the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers rematched at the Staples Center. Like the first game, the Lakers got off to a hot start. But this time, they still led easily 106-90.

There wasn’t a lot of drama in this episode. Dennis Rodman did not play for unknown reasons, while Shaquille O’Neal was sidelined with a sprained right knee. Michael Jordan once again led the Bulls with 27 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. Scottie Pippen scored 22 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds and 1 steal.

Eldon Campbell played the starting center in Shaq’s absence and scored 34 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. Kobe Bryant once again had a memorable performance, finishing with 5 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block. Just like Kobe’s first game against Jordan, the rookie struggled.

These were the only two games between Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. The following season, the brash shooting guard scored 33 points in his third game against His Airness and then added 20 points.