Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were two extremely similar players. Both played the same position and displayed a similarly intense mentality and approach to the game. But many people often wonder which one of the two was the better player. One former NBA player revealed that he would use that argument to mess with Michael Jordan.
Former NBA champion John Salley, who is close friends with Michael Jordan and played with Kobe Bryant in LA, spoke about Jordan and Kobe’s relationship. He noted that he would often try to get under MJ’s skin by saying that Kobe Bryant was better than him, and Jordan would just dismiss him (2:53 onwards).
“Michael and I have always had a great relationship. And I always said ‘Man, Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan… I’m going with Kobe Bryant. He would give you 70’. Just because I’m talking to the greatest.”
‘Oh Sal, there you go, you always start something’. I don’t know man! You can’t go left, the kid can go left, he can do this, his jumpshot is better’. Just to mess with Michael. I would hate to see them both at 27 years old but we couldn’t have because Kobe would not have become Kobe without a 27-year-old Michael Jordan.”
Salley knew what buttons to push when it came to Jordan. But it is clear that he wasn’t saying that out of malice, but just to have some fun at Jordan’s expense. Jordan never shied away from the conversations about who was better between himself and Kobe Bryant.
Kobe once revealed how Michael broached the subject while they were having dinner together, and Kobe told him to enjoy his salad, as he wouldn’t win the debate. The two players were very close, with Kobe often referring to Jordan as his big brother, someone whom he turned to for advice.
