NBA stars react to Kobe, Jordan ‘problem’ in ‘The Last Dance’

Leigh Nald Cabildo

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NBA stars react to Kobe, Jordan ‘problem’ in ‘The Last Dance’

AFP

Episodes 5 and 6 of 'The Last Dance' draw the same hype and excitement from sports stars just like the first 4 episodes

MANILA, Philippines – Basketball fans witnessed the competitive side of Michael Jordan, but it was that young “Laker kid” who took the spotlight in the latest episodes of The Last Dance.

NBA stars and other sports personalities became emotional when a young Kobe Bryant popped up on screen, taking Jordan one-on-one in the 1998 All-Star Game.

Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash last January with his daughter Gigi and 7 others, talked about how Jordan helped him to be a five-time champion and one of the best in the league.

Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol tuned in to watch his beloved friend and former teammate, while Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young expressed his admiration for the late NBA icon. 

Other personalities like 20-year veteran Jamal Crawford and NBA 2KTV host Alexis Morgan shared their love for the “Black Mamba,” still in disbelief over his death. 

The latest episodes of the series showed the Bulls’ quest for their first three-peat, which saw them face the New York Knicks and the Phoenix Suns in hard-fought battles in the 1993 playoffs. 

Lakers guard Alex Caruso and writer Rod Beard reacted to Bulls guard John Paxson’s title-clinching triple against the Suns in the 1993 NBA Finals, while Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal highlighted Jordan’s “one suit” line. 

The latest episodes featured Jordan’s other hobbies too, among them golf and gambling, drawing reactions from 2019 Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and NBA writer Marc J. Spears.

Also discussed were the Dream Team and how Jordan and Scottie Pippen pestered Croatian star Toni Kukoc in the 1992 Olympics just to prove former general manager Jerry Krause wrong. Kukoc eventually joined the Bulls.

The Los Angeles Sparks’ Chiney Ogwumike and columnist Skip Bayless were amazed by the rare footage of the Dream Team practice, while the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kevin Love and reporter Marc Stein showed Kukoc some love. 

Basketball fans also saw how former Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas reacted to his Dream Team snub. 

The Hall of Famer drew the ire of fans on social media, but just like after Episodes 3 and 4, they directed their anger at the wrong Thomas, this time Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas. 

But probably the biggest winner of this week’s episodes is former Bulls security guard John Michael Wozniak, who mocked Jordan with his own famous shrug after winning their penny-throwing game.

Indeed, everyone can be like Mike. – Rappler.com

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