Tim Grover trained Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, two of the most competitive individuals to have ever walked the Earth.
But contrary to the popular notion, Grover observed that neither of them hogged valuable information from anyone who asked; instead, they openly shared it. Passing on what they knew was never an issue, provided the other person carried one key trait.
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“You know what I’ve always learned about the best athletes? They’re willing to share their information, how they did it,” Grover told Jarrel Harris of Sports Illustrated in a 2021 interview. “Kobe would talk to his teammates all the time. He would talk to players on the opposing team. Same thing with MJ. You know, they would give them the information on what it takes to be great, but they wouldn’t give them any more information until that individual actually applied it.”
Protective but not selfish
The belief that Jordan was not a willing teacher may have stemmed from what he said about Grover. The Chicago Bulls icon once said to his trainer, “I don’t pay you to train me. I pay you to not work with anyone else.”
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Although that sounded self-serving, that did not mean Jordan wanted all the “data” in his head to remain there. Even Grover admitted that His Airness would still be the player he was with or without his help. Jordan, like Bryant, only wanted the wisdom-seekers to earn their stripes.
”Kobe gave you something, ‘Hey, this is the mentality that it takes to win,'” Grover stated. “He wanted to see you apply that mentality, see if you’re going to use it, see if you’re actually going to win with it before he answers the next question for you, because if you’re not willing to do that part, he’s going to be like, “Know what? This person really isn’t interested in winning.”
That approach made their guidance feel more like a test. Both Bryant and Jordan wanted to see whether someone had the discipline to put lessons into practice before earning more. In their eyes, knowledge without action was wasted, and application was the only real currency that mattered.
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In that sense, their mentorship wasn’t about withholding information but about holding the people who sought their guidance accountable. If a player proved willing to work, the door to deeper insights swung open. That way, it’s always up to the player to decide if they want more.
The student became the teacher
Unfortunately for Jordan, he never had the opportunity to be a true mentor to anyone except Bryant. The latter was the only one who chipped away at his armor. Others may have been intimidated by his mere presence, but Kobe never viewed himself as unworthy of Michael’s guidance.
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Nonetheless, Bryant made sure to pay everything forward. Kobe sought the help of long-time Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy to organize a mini-camp in 2019 with many of the league’s most recognizable faces. Some of the attendees were Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Jamal Murray.
”The whole thing was to show guys the progression of what Kobe did throughout his career, on the court, in the classroom and in the weight room and taking care of your body and nutrition. It was everything to give these guys – an education on what it’s like to be around him and how he thought on the floor and off the floor,” Handy said.
John Collins, then playing for the Atlanta Hawks, was one of the players who received an invite. After the initial shock and surprise that somebody of Bryant’s stature noticed his game, Collins became a sponge who readily soaked in all the information imparted by the basketball legend.
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”If you wanted, Kobe would give his opinion on anything,” he observed. “You could ask him whatever you’d like. Kobe was very open to handing out knowledge. It was an amazing thing to see and be around.”
By doing that, Bryant closed the loop. He once demanded lessons from Jordan, so he later gave back to the next wave of stars without hesitation. While some may question where Kobe belongs in the all-time rankings, the wisdom he passed down ensures his legacy outlasts any ranking.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 6, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.