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Kobe Bryant: 50 Greatest Moments of Black Mamba’s Career

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) warms up before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) warms up before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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20. Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan

On December 17, 1997, Kobe Bryant was 19 years old. He’d just completed his rookie season and was beginning to come into his own as a key member of the Los Angeles Lakers’ rotation.

Michael Jordan was 34 years old and freshly removed from winning his fourth career NBA championship.

Before the two sides met at the United Center, Jordan compared his clash with Bryant to when he was young and battling the likes of Julius Erving and Walter Davis. Jordan called Bryant the, “Star of the future,” heralding the 19-year-old’s upside and present-day ability.

What followed was a matchup for the ages.

Jordan led the Bulls to a 104-83 victory by scoring 36 points on 12-of-22 shooting. Bryant, playing 29 minutes off of the bench, essentially matched Jordan shot-for-shot, pouring in 33 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the field.

The numbers were tremendous and the hype made it all the more spectacular, but the true mark of this great encounter was Bryant consistently seeking out Jordan’s advice on how to improve.

There’s nothing more Kobe than that.

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