Even though a few athletes were considered to be Michael Jordan‘s heir apparent, no one else came close to taking His Airness’ throne except for the late, great Kobe Bryant. Throughout their careers, Kobe and Michael were frequently contrasted, whether it was because of their similarity as killer instincts on the court or their unparalleled work ethic.
James Worthy, a former player for the Los Angeles Lakers, asserts that Kobe was unique from the other two legends in one important way. During the unveiling of Kobe’s statue, Worthy gave a speech in which he commended Bryant for his steadfast devotion to the game, which he feels set him apart from Jordan.
Kobe Bryant Had No Pastimes
Bryant spent his whole playing career in the glamorous and glitzy City of Angels. Nonetheless, Kobe maintained his intense concentration on basketball as many of his peers dabbled in the Hollywood lifestyle. Worthy revealed that he had never witnessed anything like Bryant’s level of commitment to the game. Worthy said,
“I never thought I would see more of an assassin than Michael Jordan until Kobe. Michael didn’t care about anyone, but he had hobbies—golf, baseball. Kobe had no hobbies. His hobby was to assassinate you,”
There are numerous accounts of Kobe’s devotion to the game of basketball. Kobe was renowned for his unwavering work ethic, which was seen in his early-morning exercises while he was a member of the Redeem Team, which surprised a lot of his colleagues, and his all-day workouts during the offseason, which helped him win five NBA championships.
“It almost comes alive. Looking at it you can feel Kobe, you can see Kobe, you can hear his voice.” James Worthy speaks on how special Kobe Bryant’s statue is and his impact on the city of Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/HS0eiYg7r5
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 9, 2024