On December 14, Kobe Bryant became the NBA's third all-time scoring leader with a free throw in their game against Minnesota Timberwolves. The feat puts him above Michael Jordan, the legendary Chicago Bulls to whom he is always compared with since stepping in the league. The Los Angeles Lakers received congratulations from all over the world. However, nothing is probably more precious than the one from the Airness himself.
In an interview with Chicago Sun Times' Seth Rugen, Kobe Bryant revealed that Michael Jordan greeted him for his most recent NBA record. He added that the six-time champ from Windy City even asked him to keep going and become second in all-time scoring list.
"Go get Karl [Malone]," Kobe said when asked if he and Jordan talked.
Karl Malone, who spent his career with Chicago Bulls rival Utah Jazz before becoming teammates with Kobe Bryant in the Los Angeles Lakers in 2003, amassed a total of 36,928 points. This means Kobe will need 4,563 more to surpass him. Achieving this would be hard though given his declining health and his team not even in contention for a playofff spot.
Aside from Michael Jordan's message to Kobe Bryant, Seth Rugen also wrote about the 19-year veterans' feeling about the scoring record.
"It was more of a thankful feeling to Michael and the players who came before because I've learned so much from them," Bryant said. "And I don't say that lightly. I've literally just stole [expletive] from them, like spin moves and pull-ups. It's not me passing these players. It's us. I've literally taken things from their games and made them my own."
Right now, Kobe Bryant is sitting out games, most recently the Christmas face-off against the Chicago Bulls and his former teammate Pau Gasol to whom he won two championships with. Coach Byron Scott also said that it might last up to one week before fans see the Black Mamba again on the court.
