The Lakers' team bus would always leave Kobe Bryant behind because he waited to talk to MJ after every game: "We were always one head short with Kobe"

Michael Jordan referred to Kobe Bryant as his 'little brother.' But before MJ and Kobe became very close, the younger Bryant relentlessly pursued Jordan and wanted to learn everything from him.

Right from the start, Kobe was crazed with Mike and wanted to talk to him at every opportunity. Bean's best chance was every time his Lakers faced Jordan's Bulls. According to former Lakers trainer Gary Vitti , Bryant would always be left behind by the team bus because he fanatically waited outside the Bulls locker room to have an opportunity to talk to his idol.

"I'm the guy that counted the heads on the bus and told the bus driver, 'OK. Now we can move. We got everybody,'" Vitti said. "And we were always one head short with Kobe."

Kobe obsessively waited for MJ to come out

The problem with Jordan was that he was always the last player to leave the Bulls' locker room. Aside from taking a shower, His Airness would get treatments and review the score sheets while waiting for the crowd to lie down. Bryant would be outside the tunnel, patiently and obsessively waiting for MJ.

Once Michael emerged from the locker room, Kobe wasted no time asking him questions. Jordan's trainer, Tim Grover , who later trained the Mamba, would overhear Bryant talking about footwork or turnaround shots. Mike mostly talked to the young superstar, but there were times when he would demonstrate a skill even though he was already wearing a suit.

"There's a bunch of other athletes that came up to Michael that wanted him to 'mentor them,'" said Grover. "But when they found out how difficult it was to maintain that intensity and to be that relentless, most of them faded out. But Kobe kept it up. The more information that Michael gave him, Kobe got even more thirst."

Related: Michael Jordan opens up about his older brother Larry not making the NBA: "He has always been a good player, but he just didn't grow enough"

The nuisance turned into love

Kobe's relentless persistence was so intense that it irritated those around him. Initially, even Jordan seemed annoyed, but there was something about the youngster that drew MJ in. During his speech at the Black Mamba's public memorial, Mike shared how what was once annoying became endearing.

"You know all of us have brothers and sisters, little brothers, little sisters, who for whatever reason always tend to get in your stuff, your closet, your shoes, everything. It was a nuisance – if I can say that word – but that nuisance turned into love over a period of time," said Jordan.

Later, the locker room talks were no more. After Mike gave Kobe his number, Bryant would not stop calling Jordan, even during the wee hours of the morning, just asking questions about everything. Before he passed away, Vino not only had a Hall of Fame basketball career, but he also had very successful businesses and a happy family life. Safe to say, little bro learned his lessons well. Big Brother can be proud to say he taught him just as well.

Related: Rasheed Wallace on the problems young Kobe gave him: "If I didn't know him or didn't love him, I would try to hurt that dude"