Los Angeles Lakers: 30 greatest individual performances in team history

Los Angeles Lakers: 30 greatest individual performances in team history: 20. Kobe Bryant learns from the master

During the 1990s, you weren’t even allowed to look directly at Michael Jordan. He was the cream of the crop, the top dog, the don dada. Or, in other words, the G.O.A.T.

Unafraid of what he was up against as he sought his own seat at the table, Kobe Bryant made it no secret that he was gunning for Jordan’s spot. And while the two played twice during his rookie season, Bryant was outscored a combined 10 to 57, he simply took his lumps and came back the next season seemingly ready for the challenge and boy was he ever.

In the first meeting of his second year, Jordan torched him for 36 points but Bryant came right back at him. In just 29 minutes of play, Bryant scored 33 points on 60 percent shooting from both the field and the 3-point line. He didn’t get the results he was looking for as Jordan and the Chicago Bulls cruised to a 19 point lead. But still, Jordan knew he was coming.

It was the first big moment of Bryant’s young career and he officially placed the world on notice that he could be just as good if not better than who many still consider the greatest player of all time.