'The Last Dance' Episode 5 Review: An emotional tribute to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan's iconic camaraderie
Spoilers for 'The Last Dance' Episode 5
It is fair to say the sporting world is still reeling from the tragic death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant. The moistening of the eyes couldn't be helped when you saw Bryant show up on-screen wearing a red hoodie and talking about Michael Jordan in ESPN's ten-part docuseries, 'The Last Dance'.
"He was like my big brother… I don’t get five championships here without him, because he guided me so much, and gave me so much great advice," Bryant said. It may sound like cliched lines, but it was what it was. Jordan had a major impact on Bryant's life.
"I had a question about (MJ’s) turn-around shot, so I asked him about it… He gave me a great detailed answer, and on top of that, he said if you need anything, give me a call. It’s like my big brother," he added.
"It was a rough couple years for me coming into the league because at the time the League was so much older… I was a kid that shot a bunch of airballs, you know what I mean? And at that point, Michael provided a lot of guidance for me." These aren't random statements. These weren't proof that Michael Jordan was the GOAT. This is an insight into the amazing bond Bryant and Jordan shared. After all, the former was touted to be the next MJ.
The episode also sheds light on the birth of Nike's Air Jordans. Jordan's manager David Falk shares a unique story. Nike wasn't really Jordan's first choice. It was either Converse, which was the NBA's official shoe partner, or Adidas. When it didn't work with both companies, Jordan reluctantly sat in a meeting with Nike after some coaxing from his folks. What followed was the creation of the signature Nike Air Jordans that is a cult-classic to date.
Between the business and Kobe Bryant, there were two other personalities whose storylines pique our interest — Toni Kukoc and Harvey Gantt. Kukoc was widely regarded by team General Manager Jerry Krause, so much so that Scottie Pippen and Jordan decided to show their mettle when the dream team from the US took on Croatia at the '92 Olympics. Needless to say, Kukoc was subdued as Pippen dished out one of his most spectacular performances ever.
Then there was that business with Harvey Gantt, a Democrat who looked to dislodge Republican Jesse Helms in his journey to becoming the state's first black senator. "My mother asked me to do a PSA about Harvey Gantt," Jordan explained. "I said, 'Look, mom, I'm not speaking out of pocket about something I don't know, but I will send a contribution to support him'.''
As it panned out, Gantt lost the election, but there was this one line from Jordan "Republicans buy sneakers too" that saw him land flush in the attention of the critics.
Former President Barack Obama has some screentime in the docuseries as he weighs in on Jordan's line. And as far as Jordan goes, he's always an athlete first. A video clip shows him interacting with Muhammad Ali; however, Jordan is a stark contrast when he says, "I do commend Muhammad Ali for standing up for what he believed in, but I never thought of myself as an activist," Jordan affirms. "I thought of myself as a basketball player. Was I selfish? Probably."
Episode 5 packs enough and deviates from the sports aspect a bit with Jordan's branding and political thoughts taking centerstage. But, there was still enough basketball in the chapter that compels you to sit through this meticulously crafted docuseries. With the series touching the halfway mark, 'The Last Dance' just gives ample reasons to tune in every Sunday. Richly complemented by some great music, this tale of Jordan and the Bulls is definitely a must-watch.
'The Last Dance' airs Sundays 9 pm ET on ESPN.
