Kobe Bryant was willing to put his all out on the floor. Even in his final game, he played for the win scoring 60 points. However, the Mamba wasn’t just an elite offensive player. Throughout his career, he made his name as a lockdown defender. Taking on the challenge to guard the best player, the NBA Hall of Famer was a menace on both ends of the floor.

But Bryant wasn’t always a top-tier defensive player. Notably, it was after his matchups against Michael Jordan that the Los Angeles Lakers legend grasped the important concepts. Starting as a skinny young player, Bryant was always hungry to win. However, it wasn’t until he learned from His Airness that Kobe displayed his full potential.

Speaking about his big brother in the book, ‘Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality’, the two-time Finals MVP broke down how a single photo of MJ helped him fix a key part of his defensive stance.

Kobe Bryant observed Michael Jordan become a better defensive player

Going into detail, Bryant revealed the flaws in his approach in the post. Notably, the Black Mamba had no balance at all. Leaning into Jordan, he gave players space to work with. However, the hungry competitor couldn’t do with having weakness in his game. Hence, he used his observations to become the best of the defenders. Notably, just looking at Michael Jordan’s near-perfect defense became a pivotal moment for Byant.

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Looking at the photo in 1998, the Lakers legend said: “Michael is standing straight from the waist up. He’s not leaning in either direction and because of that he is balanced and centered.” The Mamba continued, “Thankfully, I actually saw this photo back in 1998. After studying it, I corrected my posture and balance. After that, it was a lot harder to operate against me in the post.”

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Following Jordan’s nine All-Defensive first-team selections, Kobe Bryant replicated his idol’s achievements. He transformed himself into one of the elite two-way players in league history. The bond between Jordan and Bryant was arguably the biggest reason the basketball world saw the reflection of the Bulls legend on the floor. MJ found his perfect apprentice with the same drive and hunger to win.

Bryant came in with the intention to surpass his idol. However, what he got was a bond that would stay for life. Sharing a brotherhood, Jordan looked after Bryant. Kobe Bryant became the torch bearer to the legacy that the six-time NBA champion left behind. Without Jordan’s major impact, the NBA wouldn’t have seen the best of the Black Mamba.

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A bond that runs way beyond the basketball floor, Michael Jordan and Bryant were true brothers. Do you think Kobe Bryant is the closest thing to MJ? Let us know your views in the comments below.