Jordan's message to Bryant: 'Go get Karl.'

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant knows that his place in NBA history would be meaningless without the great players who came before him.

When Bryant passed Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list, moving into third place, the two talked. Jordan’s message?

“Go get Karl [Malone],” he said of former Jazz great Karl Malone, who ranks second all-time with 36,928 points.

Bryant, who wasn’t in the lineup against the Bulls on Thursday at the United Center, has 32,365 points. Bryant’s list of “thank-yous” rivals an Oscar-winning speech.

“It was more of a thankful feeling to Michael and the players who came before because I’ve learned so much from them,” Bryant said. “And I don’t say that lightly. I’ve literally just stole [expletive] from them, like spin moves and pull-ups. It’s not me passing these players. It’s us. I’ve literally taken things from their games and made them my own.”

Jordan is fourth all-time with 32,292 points.