Phil Jackson sheds new light on the differences between Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.
Jackson, who coached the Bulls to six championships and the Lakers to five championships, recently interviewed Bulls management and players.
Chicago point guard Coby White said he took the opportunity to ask Jackson about the differences between Kobe and Jordan.
“Because I know Kobe was really trying to emulate Michael Jordan,” White said, according to NBC Sports Chicago.
“The main thing he said was that Kobe didn’t have a conscience and Michael Jordan did. Basically, he said he’d be a little disappointed if Mike didn’t play 50 percent at the end of the game. Kobe could go 7-for-25, but he really not give a damn about.”
Jackson has discussed this topic before, but when comparing the two legendary players from the past, he talked about something different.
“Michael was more charismatic and sociable than Kobe,” Jackson said in his memoir. Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success. “He loved hanging out with his teammates and security, playing cards, smoking cigars and joking around.”
Of course, Kobe and Jordan had a lot in common, such as an insatiable work ethic and an unparalleled desire to win.
Jordan set a new standard for basketball greatness and became a cultural icon, while Kobe was deeply influenced by his idol and created his own legacy as an equally fierce competitor and dedicated winner.
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