As Kobe Bryant gets ready to enter the NBA Hall of Fame, he was asked who he wanted to introduce him. His answer, Michael Jordan or Phil Jackson.
As an NBA and Kobe Bryant fan, I can understand his logic somewhat. Phil Jackson was the man who helped him achieve greatness with five NBA championships. Michael Jordan may have provided Kobe with the moves and desire but Jordan was nowhere in the picture when Bryant morphed into the Black Mamba.
They may have faced off a few times but by the time Kobe was coming into his own, Jordan was in the front office making moves to become an owner. Phone conversations, email, and texts can offer support and guidance but his presenter should be someone who knows his style first hand.
I can understand why he won’t pick Shaquille O’Neal but wouldn’t that be the ultimate sign of forgiveness from both players? Asking Jordan to present him would be like LeBron James asking Karl Malone.
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Kobe wanted to be Mike. Then, he wanted to be better than Mike. Both played the same position with the same flair but that’s where it stops. Jordan is one of the greatest players to ever play the game but he owes Kobe nothing and vice versa. This honor belongs to Jackson and no one else.
Where would Kobe be without Jackson? How many rings did he win with and without Phil? And, how many did he win with Jordan? They are as bonded together as Jordan is with Phil.
Phil may have played games with Kobe’s mental aspect but he did teach him not only what a winner is but how to become one. Those types are the ones you invite to introduce you.
But Kobe sees it differently as told to Liv Levy of Complex when asked who he wanted to present him:
"Wow, that’s a great question. In terms of who might present, for me it’s two people: Michael Jordan or Phil Jackson. They’ve been the greatest mentors, not only in my career as an athlete, but also as a person. And what I might say is just a lot of thank yous. ‘Cause I’ve had a lotta help along the way. A lotta lotta help."
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We get it. Jordan was his idol on the court but Jackson was his teacher. Jackson has earned the right as Jordan passed him over for his idol David Thompson to present him. It’s about time someone paid their respect to the teachers.