NBA Photographer Reveals Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant's Major Difference

Veteran NBA photographer Andrew Bernstein has revealed one major difference between Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan that he noticed after working with the two legends.

During his chat with “The John Roa Show” last month, Bernstein shared some of his memories of Bryant, as well as his similarities and differences with Jordan. According to the renowned NBA photographer, the Chicago Bulls legend and the late Los Angeles Lakers star were both "religious workaholics" and obsessed with staying in their best shape.

The only difference between them, Bernstein said, is that Jordan never cared about the details and just wanted to get better, but Bryant always wanted to know the reason behind everything he was asked to do.

"They both worked out hard," Bernstein said. "They both were religious workaholics in terms of their physical fitness and being in shape. The difference was that Michael didn't care about the 'why.' Michael just wanted to get stronger, get bigger, and get in the best possible shape he could be."

"Kobe was relentless about asking about the 'why,'" he continued. "Like, 'Why are we doing this exercise? Why are we working on these muscles?' And that was really the difference between the two of them."

Throughout Bryant’s stellar career, he was determined to exceed expectations. In fact, in his book "The Mamba Mentality," the Lakers icon explained how he devised a workout routine that has worked for his shooting.

"Over the years, my routine might have changed some, but my philosophy never did," Bryant wrote. "If something has worked for other greats before you, and if something is working for you, why change it up and embrace some new fad? Stick with what works, even if it’s unpopular."

Bernstein, who met Bryant when he was 17 years old, said he is not as familiar with Jordan as he is with the late Lakers superstar. However, having had the opportunity to work closely with them, he concluded that both legendary players had that "assassin’s look" in their eyes.

"I wasn't around Michael as much, but they both had that look in their eye, that assassin's look," Bernstein said. "They relished, they absolutely relished at the most complex, the most nerve-wracking time. Just give them the ball."

Bryant, 41, died Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, that also claimed the lives of his daughter Gianna, 13, and seven other people.