Before becoming a big star, everyone has their own idol. Kobe Bryant is no exception!

It’s no secret that Kobe Bryant considered Michael Jordan one of his biggest idols. The Los Angeles Lakers star tried to follow in MJ’s footsteps throughout his playing career, and Kobe clearly didn’t want to be outdone by his senior.

Jon Barry, one of Kobe’s teammates during his younger years with the Lakers, recently shared a lovely story about how 19-year-old Kobe Bryant idolized Michael Jordan. Bryant was just entering his second year in the NBA at the time, while Jordan was in his prime with the Chicago Bulls.

“Kobe wanted to be Michael Jordan more than anything else in the world. He did so well, he came so close. He wasn’t afraid of anything, he loved being compared to Michael Jordan, it was just something he craved every day.”

Kobe loved collecting pictures and cards of Michael Jordan as a kid, from his desk to his bed, he had pictures of the Chicago Bulls star everywhere. The high school boy often talked about his dream of becoming the next MJ.

To be able to achieve what Michael Jordan has in hand, Kobe Bryant understands that it is not a small challenge, however, the Lakers’ legendary number 24 never accepts to stop.

Kobe Bryant’s burning desire was the reason why Kobe kept moving forward. With 5 championships for the Los Angeles Lakers, the late legend Kobe tried very hard, but it cannot be said that he surpassed the legend Michael Jordan, who brought 6 championships in just 8 years for the Chicago Bulls.

Even though Kobe Bryant can hold his head high, he has become a part of the history of purple and gold in particular and the world of basketball in general, so Kobe’s reputation and influence are not even inferior to MJ.

While other players don’t want to be compared to anyone, Kobe chose the opposite. He needed a role model to rise up to, and that role model was none other than the greatest player in NBA history.