Magic: Kobe, MJ's 'special relationship' began at '98 All-Star Game

The next episode of "The Last Dance" will feature an encounter between Michael Jordan and the late Kobe Bryant at the 1998 NBA All-Star Game.

Up until Jordan's moving speech at Kobe's memorial service in February, it wasn't clear how close the two had been, but Los Angeles Lakers icon Magic Johnson saw the roots of their bond at the annual showcase game that year.

"You could see the beginning of this special relationship that was going to take place and start forming then," Johnson told Arash Markazi of The Los Angeles Times. "Kobe respected guys but it was different (with Michael). He idolized Michael in a way that was different from anybody else. It was like, 'Man, I'm trying to be like you but I also want to show you what I got in this All-Star Game too.'"

During Jordan's eulogy, he referred to Kobe as his "little brother" and talked about some of the late-night text conversations they'd had. On one occasion, Kobe apparently asked His Airness for some basketball coaching advice at 2 a.m.

Magic was aware of the talks, but like everyone else, he didn't realize how tight-knit the two were.

"Both of them never talked publicly about it but I think they could understand each other," Johnson said. "Kobe wanted to go get to that level. That's what he always told me: 'I want to be like you and Michael, not only on the court but I want to be like you guys off the court.' That was one of the last things Kobe told me.

"He was chasing those six championships and he always wanted Michael's respect. Kobe didn't have a lot of friends but he really had a good friend in Michael. I think they could go to (places in) conversations that nobody could go to, in terms of on those levels. He knew that Michael really cared about him and vice versa. Kobe really cared about Michael."