Derrick Rose and Kobe Bryant: Exploring Their Intriguing Dynamic

In many ways, Derrick Rose and Kobe Bryant couldn't be more different. It's almost impossible to define Rose without using the word "humble." It's almost impossible to use it when discussing Kobe Bryant unless you're thinking of antonyms. 

Yet, they are alike in so many ways that it's intriguing how they've formed what is almost a mentor-protege relationship across the country even though they play for different teams. 

Last year when Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Bulls in LA, he pulled Rose aside after the game and said something to him. He hasn't revealed what it was, but it was some sort of word of encouragement. 

When asked if he was "passing the torch" to Rose he answered, "I ain't passing (expletive)."

Asked if he was challenging Rose, Bryant answered "He can certainly try." 

From Bryant those are words of praise. Champions don't just take any challenge. You have to earn the right first. It was a mark of Rose's growth that Bryant would throw down the gauntlet. 

Since he issued that challenge, Rose's Bulls are 2-0 against the Lakers, and in the second game, it was Rose who made the game-winning shot. 

He might not have the torch, but he's got his fist on it and he's wrestling Bryant for it, and you get the feeling that Bryant almost wants him to win. Not that he wants to lose, but that he wants the next generation of greatness in the NBA to continue in the line of Bryant's work ethic and fire to win. 

Therein lies the thread which joins them. In one another they see winning and improving as inseparably joined together.  Neither looks at basketball's offseason as time away from the game. They look at it as time to improve, and the goal of that is not to be better for the sake of being better, but to be better for the sake of winning it all. 

On NBA Gametime, Shaquille O'Neal was talking about how Kobe Bryant would practice game-winning shots in his head and on the court as a rookie. When Derrick Rose was asked about his incredible 180-reverse-left-handed-off-the-backboard-with-english layup recently, he responded as though you'd asked if he took cream in his coffee, "Oh yeah, I practice those shots." 

After a loss to Golden State last year, Rose stayed up in bed, turning over the game in his head and trying to figure out what he should have done. Finally he called head coach Tom Thibodeau and went through every situation, trying to learn what he should have done. 

When they were in the Philippines together this summer, Bryant took Rose aside and talked about his game with him. He told him to work on his post game, to get to the elbow because it's easier to score there, and to put pressure on the defense. Most importantly, he told him to "seek championships." 

When asked, Rose was delighted to talk his time with Bryant:  "I look at myself like an old-school player. Back in the day, players really went at each other. His mentality is great."

Bryant is not one to cast his pearls before the swine. He wasn't going to waste his wisdom on just anyone. It's compelling that he thinks Rose is worthy of his wisdom. 

Even the fans of the players seem to have a kind of harmony between them. Perhaps it's because they've had to defend their favorite player from similar "he shoots too much" criticism. Or, perhaps it's because they recognize the same ability to simply dominate a fourth quarter. 

After the Clippers beat the Lakers, Bryant was asked about his thoughts on Chris Paul. Kobe told reporters:

""He's a dog. He's going to fight to win, and not too many teams can deal with him."

"Chris Paul is really the only other guy in the league, other than Derrick Rose, who has also that competitive edge," he continued.

"

Clearly there's a great deal of respect for Rose here. Paul, he was asked about. Rose, he brought up on his own. He obviously also has respect for Paul, but he's not seeking out Paul and telling him how to win championships. 

Rose and Bryant are probably the top two candidates for the MVP so far this year. Their respective teams may very well be in the NBA finals. There would be something majestic about that—even circular. 

It was 21 years ago that Michael Jordan wrestled the "torch" from Magic Johnson. Now perhaps a Bulls point guard can wrestle it from a Lakers shooting guard. 

One thing is for sure. It would be a fight for the ages, watching Rose and Bryant battle it out in the fourth quarter with the NBA's ultimate prize on the line.