Former Lakers star Kobe Bryant admitted he was “pissed off” about retiring and not being able to match Michael Jordan's ring total of six championships, falling one short of that feat.
During a conversation with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson in the All The Smoke podcast, the Los Angeles Lakers icon noted that tidbit, including his personal goal of winning eight rings when he first started his venture in the NBA.
Via Chris Cwik of Yahoo Sports:
“Oh, it pissed me off,” he said. Bryant also revealed that he wanted to win eight NBA championships when he started his career.
Bryant won three straight championships (2000-02) on the Lakers with the help of Shaquille O'Neal, much like Jordan did once Scottie Pippen came on board. His road to the next two took some time, teaming up with 7-footer Pau Gasol as his next partner, winning two consecutive titles in 2009 and 2010.
Jordan had three-peats from 1991-93 and 1996-98, doing so through 15 NBA seasons in a much less linear road, including coming back after two retirements.
Bryant patterned his game after Jordan, from the hanging of the tongue to his patented post-moves and signature fadeaway jumper. Jordan was an idol to Bryant as he has been to many coming up in the 90s, but Kobe was the only one to take his admiration into a pure form of mastery, borrowing some of Mike's best moves and Frankensteining some of his own to make himself into one of the league's most polished scorers.
Falling one ring short puts him one notch below His Airness, but still in the conversation of one of the best shooting guards to ever grace the NBA hardwood.
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