Chicago Bulls: 3 things we hope to learn from ‘The Last Dance’

3. What did Kobe Bryant have to say as a guest?

What will very likely be the most emotional part of this 10-part docuseries, at least in terms of the guests that will be speaking, is hearing from the former Los Angeles Lakers legendary shooting guard Kobe Bryant. The relationship between Kobe and MJ is well-noted. The latter even spoke at Kobe’s memorial gathering earlier this year.

There are very few things that could happen that would make basketball fans globally put the sudden and tragic passing of Kobe on the backburner in the span of just a couple of months. But that’s what a global pandemic can do, as the novel coronavirus effectively halted the sports world as we know it.

Hearing Kobe speak on MJ in The Last Dance will be a nice positive memory for the time being. And this is likely to be one of the last counts from Kobe on any NBA matter that most other fans, players, and media have yet to see.

The well-known “Mamba Mentality” that Kobe brought to the table during an NBA career that lasted from 1996-2016, and had a continuing impact up through the present day thereafter, is something that was inspired by the greatness of MJ. Kobe was essentially the player that MJ passed the torch to as the NBA’s best after his second retirement from the game.

Kobe and fellow former Lakes superstar, center Shaquille O’Neal, started to command the NBA along with Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs after MJ’s last retirement with the Bulls.