Since Michael Jordan retired from basketball for the third and final time in 2003, NBA experts, analysts, and fans alike have been tirelessly searching for the “next” MJ. Often times conjuring up ridiculous similarities and/or differences between (insert player here) and His Airness, negative or positive, to validate their claim as to whether Jordan still is, or isn’t, the best to ever grace the hardwood. However, as much of a fool’s errand as these comparisons are, no other player’s similarities are as well documented as that of Kobe Bryant.
Since Bryant’s career began he never shirked from the constant questions as to whether or not he had made it his career mission to chase the ghost of Jordan, and surpass his idol as the best to ever do it.
To give credit where credit is due– Bryant made a very valiant effort– winning five titles during a career that spanned 20 years for the Los Angeles Lakers.
During a “Players Only” segment for TNT for NBA All-Star weekend, Bryant, never one to back down from a challenge, told former teammate Shaquille O’Neal how close he actually came to leaving the Lakers and cementing his legacy in the house Jordan built.
.@kobebryant and @SHAQ talk details about their eventual break up from the @Lakers. #PlayersOnly pic.twitter.com/J8Wqygzx0V
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 18, 2018
Kobe Bryant Reveals He Almost Went To The Bulls In 2004
After the Lakers lost in embarrassing fashion to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals, it seemed the rumors of an eroding relationship between the dynamic Shaq-Kobe duo had finally come to a head– and for Kobe, if he was to actually leave– it seemed the only place that truly made sense, considering his career ambitions, was Chicago.
“When I retire, I don’t want people to see, he only won because of Shaq. As unfair as that is, Magic never won without Cap (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Michael (Jordan) never won without Scottie (Pippen). But here I am getting stuck with this argument, which is not fair, but yet this is the argument people will make. And I’m not OK with that.”
All the experts predicted that Kobe Bryant, then a free agent, would stay in Los Angeles, but become a member of the Clippers. However, contrary to popular belief, while the talking heads focused on a stay in LA, Bryant revealed he and his wife Vanessa were actually looking for homes and researching schools in the Chicago area. O’Neal had heard the rumors but didn’t believe it at the time.
“Oh yeah, we were looking for places in Chicago, man,” Bryant said. “We were flying up there to meet with (Jerry) Reinsdorf and (John) Paxton.”
O’Neal reacted by saying, “You would leave sunny California to go to cold ass Chicago?”
“Vanessa signed off,” Bryant said. “We were moving out to Lake Forest, I think it was. Chicago. And went on vacation in Italy, I got a phone call. (Then-agent) Rob Pelinka called and he said, ‘Shaq just requested a trade.’ I was like, ‘Well there goes Chicago.’ There’s no way the Lakers are going to lose me and Shaq in the same year.“
