Byron Scott: Kobe, MJ kept close relationship out of public eye

In the wake of Kobe Bryant's tragic death, former teammate Byron Scott was surprised to learn how close the Black Mamba's bond with Michael Jordan truly was.

"I had no idea that they were that close. I was pretty close to Kobe, and I had no idea until the memorial listening to MJ talk," Scott told USA Today's Mark Medina. "That was something that he and MJ kept to themselves. They probably didn't feel like it was anybody else's damn business."

Scott was referring to Jordan's moving speech at Bryant's public memorial service at Staples Center on February 24, in which "His Airness" referred to the Los Angeles Lakers legend as his "little brother."

"Kobe never talked about him at all," Scott said of his lone season playing with Bryant in 1996-97. "He was just so focused his rookie year with just trying to get on the court as much as possible."

After witnessing the glaring similarities in Jordan's and Bryant's play over the latter's 20-year career, the basketball world was finally able to get a closer look at the duo's personal relationship during a recent episode of "The Last Dance." In one particularly noteworthy moment in the documentary, Bryant acknowledged he wouldn't have reached the great heights he did in the NBA without Jordan's mentorship.

"He's like my big brother," Bryant said. He added: "What you get from me is from him. I don't get five championships here without him because he guided me so much, he gave me so much great advice."