History was made when Michael Jordan faced Kobe Bryant in a fascinating 1998 NBA All-Star Game.
Both legends grew larger, thanks to an intense back-and-forth performance that saw Air Jordan openly challenging a 19-year-old Bryant during his second season in the NBA.
“That little Lakers boy is going to want to take everybody one-on-one,” Jordan said.
Jordan’s Eastern Conference squad won 135-114 in a game before a packed crowd of 18,323 inside famous Madison Square Garden.
And what a game it was.
“Michael was still Michael,” Bryant said. “I mean it was ’98. I mean, he was that guy.”
Air Jordan was in his prime, about to win his fifth NBA MVP and sixth Finals trophy.
Bryant was playing in his first All-Star Game and eager to show the world what he could do against a legend the young Laker grew up admiring.
“I grew up watching Michael on TV,” Bryant said. “And now you’ve got a chance to go face to face with him. You get a chance to really see and touch and feel strength, speed, quickness.”
Jordan’s trademark intensity didn’t disappoint.
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His inner fire was later revealed in a locker-room video captured before a star-laden game that featured Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, Karl Malone, Grant Hill, Shawn Kemp, Reggie Miller and Penny Hardaway.
“He (Bryant) don’t let the game come to him. He just go out there and take it,” Jordan said in the dressing room. “I’m going to make this s*** happen. I’m going to make this a one-on-one game.”
Fans loved seeing the professional intensity between the two superstars.
” ‘That little Laker boy.’ Jordan was hating,” one fan posted.
“Not hating. He had to earn his stripes,” a second fan wrote.
“Kobe and Jordan pretty much have the same exact game,” a third fan posted. “It’s crazy how much alike they are.”
Jordan was the biggest star in the world’s most famous arena, leading all scorers with 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting, six rebounds, eight assists and three steals.
But Bryant was equally impressive, playing beyond his years while scoring a team-high 18 points and adding six rebounds, an assist and two steals.
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“The man many have dubbed the next Michael Jordan,” an announcer said.
Jordan’s team won the 1998 All-Star Game and he took home the MVP in a year that also featured a final world championship for the Bulls’ dynasty.
But a young Bryant had a coming-out-party inside MSG, rivaling MJ as the best athlete on the hardwood.
“I’m gonna make his a** work down here,” Jordan said before the game.
“It was fun to be out there,” Bryant later recalled.
