According to John Salley, at the age of 21, Kobe Bryant would watch Michael Jordan clips in restaurants.

The Los Angeles Lakers' #13 pick in the 1996 NBA Draft entered the league as an 18-year-old with promise. He didn't get much playing time in his rookie and sophomore years, but by the time he was 22, Bryant had developed into a future superstar. At an age when players used to declare for the draft, he became an NBA champion, two-time All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive First Team selection. How did he manage it? While studying the game's GOAT, the man was literally in a "eat, sleep, basketball, repeat!" routine. even in eateries!

John Salley spills the beans on a Kobe Bryant/Michael Jordan story

A former Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan teammate, John Salley, reminisced about his time with both superstars and described Kobe's hunger for learning the game at the age of 21 in a recent episode of the All the Smoke podcast. When the rest of the world was celebrating the legal drinking age, The Black Mamba was watching Michael Jordan and other basketball legends on his VCR, and Salley was there to witness him do it inside a restaurant.

Nowadays, watching videos in a restaurant is not unusual. However, it was not as common in 2000. People would consider it an offense to everyone else if someone was watching or listening to something instead of eating. However, Kobe was Kobe. Nobody could make him do anything.

John Salley revealed Bryant's story

How Bryant contribute to the NBA's work ethic?

The National Basketball Association has produced some of the most eccentric athletes in history. Bryant himself has played with and against some of them, including Dennis Rodman, Allen Iverson, Shaquille O'Neal, and others. However, since Kobe became a superstar and the Mamba Mentality became a thing, NBA players have made it a point to incorporate it into their daily lives.

Kobe Bryant crushed out Charles Barkley

While he may not be everyone's cup of tea, Charles Barkley is dependable. Sir Charles spoke his mind as an NBA player, and that hasn't changed in retirement. The former forward will always have something to say on TNT, whether it ruffles a few feathers or not. Kobe Bryant has firsthand knowledge of this reality.

According to Barkley, he once called out the late Lakers legend on TV, which triggered a flood of late-night text messages. In an unexpected twist, Bryant, known for his fiery Mamba mentality, eventually admitted that Chuck was correct.

Charles Barkley revealed to Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks that NBA players, coaches, and executives will contact him about what he says on the air. The TNT commentator insisted that he does not share what happens during those conversations, but he did recall one memorable encounter with the late Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Bryant and Charles Barley spent one night crushing out each other

While Chuck's criticism is valid—one it's thing to take a stand, but it's quite another to do so during Game 7 of a playoff series—it didn't matter to Kobe. He was enraged and told the pundit exactly how he felt. The conversation then progressed. But, before long, Chuck had returned to his memorable encounter with Kobe. However, Kobe eventually realized that Sir Charles was correct. The mamba mind, too, had its limitations.

And, in the midst of all the drama and machismo, that's a great message to remember. Anyone can be wrong on a single occasion. Kobe Bryant, on the other hand, knew how to look in the mirror, admit failure, and move on to the next play.