The Black Mamba started his NBA journey coming straight out of high school. For Kobe, jumping from Lower Merion High School to the NBA was his best decision. Kobe Bryant always looked up to Michael Jordan, though he did not want to play for Mike’s alma mater. 

Currently, the NBA does not allow high school players to enter the Draft. Though it may be possible in the future. Back in ‘96 when Kobe joined the Lakers, he came off the bench for nearly half of the season before becoming the youngest starter in NBA history.

Even though Jordan was Kobe’s hero. Quite recently, Kobe’s ally revealed that Bryant did not want to follow in Michael Jordan’s footsteps.

Kobe Bryant would have never played for UNC

There are talks about Kobe if he had decided to go to college. Would Kobe still go on to win 5 rings? Would he had been as dominant? We might never get a straightforward answer to this. Though which college would’ve Kobe gone for? 

In an interview with Mike Sielski, Kobe’s ally, Mike revealed that Kobe would’ve never picked North Carolina if he was to play college basketball. 

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“He was never going to go to North Carolina. Because as much as he admired Michael and as much as Michael was his hero and his model, Kobe knew ‘I would never be my own man’. I would never have my own identity at UNC.” said Sielski. 

Though it is true that right after Michael Jordan’s impactful years, Bryant came straight in with his talents. Playing for UNC would’ve risen chants like ‘The next Michael Jordan’, which Kobe never would’ve wanted. 

“I’d always just be the guy who followed Michael. And so, even if he had decided to go to college he was never going to go to North Carolina,” Sielski added.

Kobe went on to be known as the Black Mamba

Coming into the league in his late teens, young and determined, Bryant never backed down and always strived to be his version. His work ethic was completely different from every single athlete. Playing for the Lakers for 20 years and putting up memorable performances that influenced kids around the world to play basketball.

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Kobe Bryant will always be one of the most influential players in basketball. What do you think would’ve happened if Kobe Bryant had decided to go to college? Let us know in the comments.