Inside Michael Jordan's relationship with Kobe Bryant

Not many managed to develop a strong relationship with NBA legend Michael Jordan, but former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant did.

Only a few people truly knew how strong Jordan and Bryant's bond was, and it certainly seems like they had a strong mutual respect for one another.

"If you just watched them interact in a game, Kobe always was like a magnet going toward Michael," said former Los Angeles Lakers general manager Jerry West, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. "Usually Michael didn't really interact with a lot of players when he was on the court. He'd just play. But for some reason, he had this affinity for him."

Bryant and Jordan were in the NBA together from the 1996-97 season to the 2002-03 campaign. Both have achieved incredible accolades, including 11 NBA championships between the two.

When Jordan received word of Bryant's passing, it was particularly hard on him, but he also discussed how often he was contacted by Bryant during his time in the league.

"He used to call me, text me 11:30, 2:30, 3 in the morning," Jordan said. "At first, it was an aggravation, but then it turned into a certain passion. This kid had passion like you would never know."

Obviously their relationship was extremely interesting, but Jordan's mentorship of Bryant probably helped him turn into an NBA superstar.