Angels News: Shohei Ohtani’s WBC Teammate Compares Him to NBA Legend

Beyond just his ability to dominate opposing teams from both the pitching mound and whenever he steps up to the plate to hit, there is something to be said about Shohei Ohtani's mentality that separates him from many other superstars.

He has never been bigger than he currently is. Coming off of some spectacular seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, he is set to receive one of the biggest deals in MLB history once the year concludes. After a stellar run in the 2023 WBC, Ohtani clearly showed that if given the right pieces, he can lead a group to the promised land.

OHTANI STRIKES OUT TROUT TO WIN THE WBC FINAL 😲 #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/5pudorQph8
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 22, 2023

Ohtani was able to put together some elite performances during his title run with Team Japan as he had a .435 batting average and led all players with ten walks. He also posted a 1.86 ERA and only allowed five hits.

Lars Nootbaar was among those who got to share the field with the 28-year-old superstar during this time and he described it as an unforgettable experience.

What stood out the most to him about Ohtani was his ability to drown out all of the noise during each of their big games and still be able to get the job done. He compared his mentality and work ethic to that of of NBA legend, Michael Jordan.

The inside scoop on Shohei Ohtani from WBC teammate Lars Nootbaar @Angels | #AngelsLive | @EricaLWeston | @BallySportsMW pic.twitter.com/fAXDt4LU0T
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) May 3, 2023

"You hear everything and you see the highlights," said Nootbaar. "Seeing him day to day, seeing him take BP, I've never seen anything like it. It is nice that he's easy-going and just a super humble guy. It reminds me of that Last Dance documentary with Michael Jordan when he was smoking a cigar in the hotel room."

(Via Bally Sports West)

The scene that Nootbaar was referring to was from 'The Last Dance' in which Jordan was talking about how players love to get confident once they're winning but that he is able to do even when the game is tied.

Take a look for yourself.

MJ is widely recognized as the greatest player to ever hit the basketball court so putting Ohtani in the same breath as him is quite the honor.