"You realize he should be a sophomore in college, and it's real scary" - What a rival coach said about the rising Kobe in 1998

In 1998, the world was closely following the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan . In what was seen as the last season the dynasty would be together, the craze in Chicago was intense. But while all the attention was on the five-time NBA MVP and his group, there was a 19-year-old kid developing in the shadows. Drafted less than two years earlier, Kobe Bryant wasn’t close to his peak at the moment — but he often flashed an invincible ceiling.

“He's scary," expressed then-Warriors head coach P.J. Carlesimo, per the Los Angeles Times. "Then you realize he should be a sophomore in college, and it's real scary. He's their sixth man, but he's not a complementary player. He plays a big role on a great team and makes it greater."

Hearing those remarks about a teenager — especially in the 90s — from a veteran head coach was rare. Bryant , who was still a non-starter, at least established himself as arguably the best sixth man in the NBA. But nobody before — or since — has used the word “scary” to describe a bench player — let alone for a teenager who skipped college before the pros.

"Kobe is a 28-year-old in a 19-year-old body,” began the late broadcaster Chick Hearn. "The things he does with no college experience is beyond belief. He has total confidence. He'd walk up to Michael Jordan or a backup guard with the same degree of skill and enthusiasm and expectations of success. He's a star on and off the court. I've seen lots of them come and go but none with the potential of Kobe Bryant. Someday, we'll be able to brag, 'We knew him when!'”

The rise to stardom

A year earlier, he played around 15 minutes a night and threw up around six shots per game. Coming off the bench in all but six games as a rookie, the young Bryant only averaged 7.6 points. While it appeared to be a slow season for No. 8, there was a lot of work being put into his craft in the background — and it showed during his sophomore season.

To open the following season, the guard had four games of 20+ points during an eleven-game winning streak. Around a month later, Bean posted a 33-point 12-20 shooting performance in 29 minutes against the defending champion Bulls and the man he grew up watching — No. 23.

Playing against MJ brought out the best in the 19-year-old. Later that season, he played against the Chicago legend in the NBA All-Star Game, becoming the youngest player to appear in the event.

“That little Laker boy … He don’t let the game come to him. He just go out there and take it,” Jordan said of Bryant before the 1998 All-Star Game. "I’m going to make this (expletive) happen. I’m going to make this a one-on-one game. After the first four attempts? If I was his teammate — I wouldn’t pass him the (expletive) ball."

Related: Kobe Bryant's former bodyguard compared working for him and other NBA stars: "Kobe was a sit outside-the-gate person"

The Mamba mentality

Kobe knew what NBA superstars — namely Jordan — were about. While he wasn’t an elite player in his own right just yet, he understood that taking a page from his predecessor's book would help him develop in the pros faster.

"The way that he approaches the game. The way he tries to dissect his opponents. He tries to abuse their weaknesses and better his strengths. There's a lot to learn from Michael,” said the Lakers guard.

Sure, he wanted to be His Airness deep down inside. After all, he was still a kid on the inside who probably felt star-struck anytime he crossed paths with No. 23. He heard the comparisons and probably appreciated them. But reaching the next level would require him to reach above and beyond as he created his own identity in the NBA.

Related: When Bird predicted MJ would become the future of the NBA during his rookie year: "Pretty soon, this place will be packed every night, not just when the Celtics come to town"