In the Showtime/CBS Sports documentary “Kobe Bryant’s Muse” from 2015, Kobe Bryant opened up about his first game against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
“First time I was getting ready to face Jordan. I had a teammate and he goes to me and said, ‘Hey, you want some advice? Whatever you do, don’t look him [Jordan] in the eye,'” Bryant explained. “Wait, excuse me? Why the hell would I not look him in the eye? I don’t think my teammate understood that I’m that too. Can’t f****** look me in the eye either, buddy.”
“I’mma call him Mike”
Bryant spoke to Patrick Bet-David following his retirement after the 2015–16 season and shared another piece of advice he received before playing against Jordan for the first time.
In high school, Kobe talked to 76ers players while working out with them, and he eventually asked them about Jordan. Bryant revealed that he couldn’t believe people didn’t call the six-time NBA champion ‘Michael’ or ‘Mike.’
“When I was in high school, I used to work out with the 76ers. I used to ask them, what’s it like to guard Mike? ‘Mike? You mean Black Jesus?’ Like what the f***. Black who? ‘We call him Black Jesus, or you can call him Black Cat. I’mma call him f****** Mike. That’s his f****** name. And I would tell him, I said when I face him, we’re gonna go at it. He says, ‘Oh, you don’t wanna do that.’ I’m like, ‘Man you don’t know me, man,” Bryant said.
Kobe vs. MJ
Bryant was fearless regardless of who was in front of him. Kobe never backed down from a challenge and though the odds weren’t always in his favor, he was always ready to take on his opponents, including his idol MJ.
As a result, Kobe has a winning record against No. 23—he’s 5-3 in eight games played. Bryant averaged 22.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in matchups against Jordan. The Bulls legend put up 24.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists playing against young Kobe.
