Kobe Bryant had an insatiable thirst for greatness, constantly striving to improve and seeking knowledge from the greats who came before him. His top five players were Jordan, Magic, Bird, Olajuwon, and West. Kobe studied Jordan's game and copied his moves to perfection, even calling him for advice. Magic was his favorite player growing up, and Jerry West was both a boss and mentor. Although he called Larry Bird "slow as s**t", Kobe admired his game and educated himself on it. Finally, Hakeem Olajuwon regarded Kobe as his greatest success as a coach. Kobe's hunger to learn and study the game set him apart and helped him become an all-time great.
