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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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19. The All-Star Trash Talk

Kobe Bryant has achieved an extraordinary amount in his 20 NBA seasons. As has been alluded to numerous times in this slideshow, one of his most significant feats is being recognized as, “The closest thing we’ve seen to Michael Jordan.”

That’s what makes this moment so iconic.

A 24-year-old Kobe Bryant faced a soon-to-be 40-year-old Michael Jordan at the 2003 All-Star Game, and legendary trash talk ensued. Bryant, on the cusp of becoming the best player in the world, takes jabs at the man he patterned his game after.

Jordan responded with the greatest taunt of all: “You’ve only got three [rings], now; I’ve got six.”

This moment embodies everything that drove Bryant to be the player he became. His conceding to Jordan’s point after the ring talk spoke volumes to how much of a student versus teacher rivalry this truly was.

It’s nothing that alters his legacy, but this was an iconic moment in Bryant’s career.

Next: No. 1 All-Time, Part II

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