Kid: Who would win in a game of one-on-one between you and Kobe?
Michael Jordan: Kobe would win because I’m older. In my prime? Not even a contest. Let’s just say I have a better chance of stopping him than him stopping me.
Oh my. Mike may have stepped away from the game of basketball a minute ago, but evidently he’s still on form when it comes to talking trash. On being being asked the "You or Kobe?" question for the umpteenth time, he tells a crowd of camp attendees what he really feels, and in doing so reignites a debate that had all but died.
So, what do you all think? Would M.J. in his prime make light work of Kobe Bryant in a game of one-on-one? Let us know in the comment box below.
62 Comments: Michael Jordan: Me Against Kobe Bryant in My Prime? ’Not Even a (...)
Posted by RT on 06.10.2009
this is so ridiculous. Kobe is good, damn good, still best closer in today’s game. Key word here is today. The NBA today is a joke when it comes to the overall game of basketball. Yeah the players are bigger, longer, faster and stronger and you know what. It don’t mean anything. The skill set of the players then, esp on the defensive end of the game, is vastly superior to today’s players. Plus the game has drastically changed in a legislative sense hence in the 80’s /early 90’s there was no such call as 3 sec’s in the post or hand checking. The "bad boys" of Detriot would simply murder you in the lanes/ post with NO WHISTLE from the refs. Everyone here saw how many times D wade went to the line in 06’. You couldn’t breathe on him without getting the whistle. Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas both have told of how tough it was to even get a clean shot off against Jordan’s D, which in my eyes was what made him so great. I know he was known for his speed easy 4.2/ 40 yrd, or his leaping 48" to Kobes 38" (btw Paul Pierce is also 38" and he looks like a slug, just sayin’......oh and Randy Moss 51", when running 53" he’s a bad man!!!!!) check it at http://vertcoach.com/highest-vertical-leap.html) and his dunks and scoring titles, ect. but the mans defense was relentless. He never ever quit. I don’t know if any of you have noticed but Kobe at age 30 has lost a lot of energy. He looks like MJ ala Wizards. One on one in their prime, game to 21. MJ 21 Kobe 14. That is being respectful. .
Posted by rell on 05.6.2009
mike will drill kobe in his prime i dont even think kobe messing wit king james real talk.... .
Posted by pikoy75 on 05.6.2009
Tony, there were reliable sources that said Kobe kept on watching MJ’s games/moves. Now Kobe moves like MJ since he emulates him. You could say there would be no Kobe with MJ.No disrespect too. .
Posted by Tony on 04.18.2009
I just want to say that because Jordan is the "original’ doesn’t make him better. Dr. J came before him and that’s who they say influenced him. Of course, Mike then took it to a new level. I say Mike is the best ever but saying all this "no Kobe without Mike" is unnecessary. If you’re going to argue a point make sure you have a respectable reason. No disrespect. .
Posted by Joey on 04.16.2009
Jordan created the game of basketball that is today, Period!Kobe’s whole game is copied from MJ, MJ is a freak of nature on the basketball court, the fadaway, jumber, dunk, defense, flare, its all jordan! there is no doupt that jordan would detroy the nba if he played today! remember he also took some years off in retirement in his prime and still came back and was better then ever! When Kobe scored 81 did anyone flagrent foul him? No! back in the day they would kill jordan when he scored 55, today its all about offense no one knows how to defende. bottom line kobe had 2 chances to shine in the finals as the main man, 1 with the lakers against detroit and 2 against boston and he choked! he never proved himself as a winner and leader in the finals! .
Posted by aaron on 03.23.2009
lets remember, without jordan there is no lebron, there is no kobe. you can’t put lebron in the 50’s a lebron wouldn’t have existed then because they owe so much to jordan. secondly jordan played against better defences than kobe and lebron. the game is now more conducive to this style of play than before. you guys remember when the heat won the championship? how often was D. wade shooting free throws? it was obsered! (spelling) the lanes are wide open now! .
Posted by Luis on 03.16.2009
um....jordan is the greatest player of all time simple as that. But if your talking about ONE on ONE???....kobe bryant is the single most lethal, unstoppable one-on-one offensive force that has ever breathed. I think Mike Jordan fan’s would be surprised on how lopsided that game would be. MJ’s specialty wasn’t his one on one game....thats what Kobe did. besides athletes are getting much more freakish. I even bet if you insert a prime vince carter in the days of magic, mj, bird....people would think that vince carter is the greatest player of all time. but he obviously isn’t. Insert Lebron in the fifties....he would average a quintiple double for his career!!..... so while jordan was a god figure in his time....you have to take in to account the huge leaps of creativity and human physical potential .
Posted by Trev on 03.11.2009
Anybody remember back in Jordan’s early years when the Bulls’ PG got injured? They made Michael Jordan play the point and he had SEVEN STRAIGHT TRIPLE DOUBLES!!!! Yet another reason why MJ is the greatest ever!!!Also, MJ played in the hand-check era. You were allowed to literally push the other guy with your hand. That rule has been changed so today’s game is much easier for the offensive player.Jordan would destroy Kobe one-on-one in his prime. .
Posted by flyrock on 12.10.2008
I wish Jordan would come back to the NBA now as old as he is, he would still dominate every player. As far as MJ and Kobe 1 on 1 that shouldn’t even be a question, Jordan is the greatest to ever play the game .
Posted by James on 11.14.2008
MJ vs Kobe one on one? During their primes? Well, I pick Kobe then MJ of coursed! if you don’t believe me...then asked Phil Jackson and Tex Winter........ .
Posted by Shrek on 10.10.2008
MICHAEL JORDAN WILL PLAY KOBE LIKE A PUPPET. IT IS A JOKE MATCH UP. JORDAN IS FASTER, CAN JUMP HIGHER, BETTER DEFENDER, BETTER OFFENSIVE PLAYER, BETTER DRIVER, BETTER SCORER, AND A BETTER BASKETBALL PLAYER AND A HUMAN BEING. .
Posted by ELENSANTUA,Philippines on 09.10.2008
sorry kobe fans i know there are legions of you. but MJ is still the best there was, there is, and will be. he is the main man. no doubt. and he is a legend no one can ever come close or overtake. sorry. love you kobe. but Michael. I LOVE HIM MORE. .
Posted by Tha Favorite on 09.4.2008
Man I luv Jordan and Kobe but I think Mike would win. But it would be the game of a lifetime! But if kobe gets hot and MJ dosent match his fire Kobe gonna get em. There is little room for error in this matchup. They are both so close in attributes that whoever plays better that day would win. Mike in 93’ or 96’ vs Kobe of 03’ or 06’???? Mike won rings but kobe destroyed the league in a way that MJ would give up props. Why u say? Because he did "The (Jordan) Streak" in both seasons and shattered MJ’s records. Oh yea then he scored 81 also off contested jumpers mostly all night in 48 minutes. MJ dropped 69 with overtime, granted The Cavs back in the day were much better than the raptors of now but still jumpers are jumpers and 3’s are 3’s. No 1 could of stopped kobe that night or MJ when he dropped 69. This would be PPV biggest pay day. Someone needs to computerize that matchup that would be sick wid it!! .
Posted by TheUNDERTAKER on 08.25.2008
THE BEST THERE WAS AND EVER WILL BE.....PLAIN & SIMPLE!! .
Posted by kobeistheman on 08.22.2008
ok one on one kobe vs. MJ MJ would win. its one on one i dont know why ur talking about assists. kobes a great player but nobody in the world can guard michael jordan. itd be a highscoring game but jordan would win .
Posted by raulguedea@yahoo.com on 08.14.2008
WHAT ARE YOU GUYS NUTS. WATCH JORDAN GAMES THEN WATCH KOBE’S.EVERYONE TRIED TO SAY THE TALENT OR PLAYERS WERE SO DIFFERENT UNTIL JORDAN CAME BACK FROM RETIREMENT AT 40 YEARS OLD AND SCORED 40 PLUS AS A OLD MAN. THE SO CALLED GREATEST PLAYER ON THE PLANET(LOSER) SUCKED IN THE NBA FINALS.HE DOESN’T LOOK SO GOOD IN THE OLYMPICS EITHER. JORDAN WON 10 SCORING TITLES. HIS FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP WAS AT NORTH CAROLINA,SAME YEAR WON THE OLYMPICS, EVENTUALLY AGAIN NEXT 3PEAT THEN ANOTHER.JORDAN HAD A WILL TO WIN BEYOND KOBE. KOBE SHOOTS GREAT THREES BUT JORDAN WOULD SMASH HIM IN THE PAINT!!!! LONG LIVE HIS AIRNESS HAIL KING AIR JORDAN AKA BLACK JESUS!!!! .
Posted by Rick on 08.11.2008
I have to comment on the last guy’s remark. Although I think Lebron James is the best in the league today and his potential is definately closer to M.J. than Kobe’s is or ever was, He’s still not in M.J.’s class. I compared the first five full years of stats (not including M.J.’s 1986 injured season) between M.J. and Lebron. M.J. leaves Lebron way behind in scoring, blocked shots and steals. Lebron came out ahead in rebounds and assists but by a very slight margin over M.J. How does that make Lebron better? You better read some litterature or put that crack pipe down! Even though Lebron is quick for his size, he could never keep up with M.J. and Lebron’s defensive skills are no where near where M.J.’s were. He wouldn’t be able to stop M.J. because of those two very important factors. Not to mention that M.J. was just a better all around player. If you’re going to have a chance of stopping M.J., your defense better not be less than stellar! However, because of M.J.’s quickness, his power for his size which is comparable to Lebron’s, his verticle leap which at the very least matched Lebron’s and his defensive skills, I give M.J. a very good chance of stopping Lebron. .
Posted by
on 08.11.2008
kobe vs mj,,mj wins but if it will be mj vs.lbj, mj won’t hav any chance .
Posted by Steve on 08.10.2008
I shouldn’t even bother to comment on this subject because these two players don’t belong being mentioned in the same breath! M.J.’s career team accomplishments bury Kobe’s by a million miles and so does his individual stats. This is not to mention the enormous physical and mental gifts that M.J. was given which far surpa-------Kobe’s prime for prime. Just to name a few... strength, power, enurance, foot speed, quickness, physical toughness, mental toughness, determination, vision, verticle leap, hand size, creativity, the ability to improvise and adapt to everyone on the court and overall knowledge of the game. Are there any questions? P.S. As far as three point shooting being M.J.’s weakness, when did Kobe ever hit six three pointers in a single half in the NBA finals when it counted the most? Look up M.J.’s three point percentage in the 1996 season. I rest my case! .
Posted by
on 08.7.2008
hey to the one who posted that do not measure it by awards. come on man, that’s why the player earned that award because it really says something. MJ is far better than Kobe. 1 on 1, MJ would still win, watch his game again. .
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