As a kid growing up in Italy, watching the tapes of NBA stars his grandfather mailed him, Kobe Bryant would mimic any and all players.
Later, Bryant refined the focus of his education.
“When I came back into the States,” Bryant said Sunday, “and I realized I wasn't going to be 6-9, I started studying Michael (Jordan) exclusively.”
Bryant scored 22 points in a 126-115 loss to the Bulls as Bryant took his game, which so closely resembles that of Jordan, to Chicago for one last time.
The Lakers lost their fifth straight game, with games in Milwaukee on Monday and Memphis on Wednesday remaining on the road trip.