Basketball fans of every team have become enamored with ESPN’s Michal Jordan documentary ‘The Last Dance’. The 10-part series has captivated audiences as one of the few new shows during this quarantine. Laker fans, in particular, will want to tune in to Sunday’s episode, as it will be dedicated to the late Kobe Bryant.
Episode 5 is dedicated to Kobe Bryant. His interview was filmed at his office in Costa Mesa last July and they edited it a week before his passing. They went back and looked at it after but it was perfect; nothing needed to be changed. The only edit was the dedication at the top.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) May 2, 2020
While the documentary itself revolves around the career of Michael Jordan, specifically his last season, it tells the story of many other figures that played a role during those years. From former teammates to former rivals, the series covers it all. Kobe didn’t enter the league until 1996, near the end of Jordan’s incredible run with the Bulls. It became clear early on that he would be the face of the game once Jordan hung up his laces. The rivalry between the two did not last very long, but it clearly left an impact on both players.
Kobe modeled his game after Jordan and took the lessons he learned to heart. He played with the same determination and fire that made Jordan great and took it to a new level. The few battles they had were legendary and helped to set the stage for Kobe’s eventual rise as the greatest player in the league. This and more will hopefully be seen through a new perspective come Sunday.
The episode will be bittersweet for Lakers fans, as some of the scenes were filmed just days before the untimely passing of Kobe. His relationship with Michael Jordan was something that he didn’t have with anyone else. Whether it was because they shared the same mindset or simply because they both appreciated the love for the game the other had, the two became inseparable after their playing days. Even Jordan realized the impact that Kobe had on his career, forever memorializing him with a feature in his life’s story.
To watch episode 5 of ‘The Last Dance’, tune in to ESPN on Sunday May 3rd at 6:00 pm PST.
