On Sunday night, ESPN’s documentary “The Last Dance” continued with episodes five and six, and episode five included footage from the 1998 NBA All-Star Game.
It was, of course, a midseason classic when Michael Jordan faced off against a brash, ascendant young star named Kobe Bryant.
Throughout Twitter, members of the NBA community reacted to seeing a 19-year-old Bryant go up against a fully formed and mature Jordan.
“That little Laker Boy”
RIP Kobe🙏♥️ pic.twitter.com/8euMnK1GBf
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 4, 2020
Damn, Kobe in The Last Dance is hitting me 😢 pic.twitter.com/Tk6GGHBpud
— EvPickz | Ev Singleton (@EvGuyBoston) May 4, 2020
When Kobe said “I wouldn’t have won 5 championships without the help and advice of Michael Jordan” #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/piaFzd5vrA
— KJIV (@TheproducerKj) May 4, 2020
Seeing Kobe in #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/uzP0aaGyqx
— KopacetiK7 (@1NUPEunderGod) May 4, 2020
Man I’m bout to shed a tear watching Kobe on #TheLastDance 😢😢😢 pic.twitter.com/6AcCrOIuAS
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) May 4, 2020
😥😥😥😥 that intro just tore me apart man. Man I wish Kobe was here to see this man. Thank you for sharing that beautiful and special footage Mike! We miss you Bean❤️🙏🏽! #TheLastDance
— Quinn Cook (@QCook323) May 4, 2020
It will never feel real Kobe isn't here with us..
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) May 4, 2020
KOBE WAS MY MJ🙏🏽😢
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) May 4, 2020
Craaaazy https://t.co/Kdfhnvlo6c
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) May 4, 2020
Just about everyone agrees than Bryant was the closest thing the game has seen to Jordan.
Most feel that although the Los Angeles Lakers legend and Philadelphia native didn’t quite match Jordan’s legacy, he came very close.
In doing so, he became a cultural icon in his own right, especially for millennials who either didn’t see Jordan or only caught the tail end of his time with the Chicago Bulls.
It also illustrates the beautiful process of evolution that has always been a constant in basketball.
In the 1960s, Elgin Baylor was the prototypical wing player who had creativity and “hang time.” He was succeeded by Julius Erving in the ‘70s and early ‘80s, who then was succeeded by Jordan in the late ’80s. Each built on what his predecessor had brought to the game.
Shortly after Jordan retired from the Bulls in 1999, Bryant took the torch from him, and he left the Lakers and their fans richer in many ways during his career.
