Michael Jordan told a group of young basketball campers Kobe could beat him 1-1 "Because I’m old". In their primes? Jordan says it wouldn’t even be close and he’d have a better chance to stop Kobe than the other way around.
http://youbeenblinded.com/michael-jordan-me-vs-kobe-not-even-close/1430
So who would win?
I’ve played a lot of one on one. In my younger days I was compared to some of the greats of the game. I had the open court skills of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the inside game of Tiny Archibald, and the jump shot of Dennis Rodman.
But I do know a little about the game. Here’s how Kobe and MJ would break down.
Forget the open court skills.
1-1 is not about that. You might see a dunk off a rebound, but Air Jordan would be mostly taxiing on the runway. And Kobe slamming one down over Jordan? Not going to happen.
The outside games are a fair match.
I don’t see a big advantage. Kobe may be the better shooter, but by a very slim margin. But here’s the problem. Kobe has to get his shot off against one of the best defensive stoppers who ever played the game. Jordan wouldn’t have a day at the park, either. Bryant has the size to disrupt the smaller Jordan’s jumper.
If Jordan were to press Kobe’s outside game, could he get around him?
Not easily. In his prime Jordan’s lateral movement was much better than Kobe’s is now. Consider also that Jordan often shut down the other team’s top scorer. Kobe doesn’t often draw that assignment, and especially not against a Michael Jordan.
Posted up…
Kobe would be able to take Jordan down low. Jordan would beat him black and blue in the process, but this is definitely an area of opportunity.
From the baseline…
This would be a draw. Bryant has a little more range than Jordan showed, but slightly less consistency. For both players the age old question-do I want to come out on this guy? What was it Clint Eastwood said in the movies? "Feelin’ lucky?" Probably not.
As Yogi Berra once said…
Ninety-five percent of this game is half mental. Here Jordan would rule. Call him cocky or arrogant, but Jordan feels at home in his skin. Kobe, not so much. Jordan would assume he would win and will himself to do so. Kobe would feel the pressure much more. In a groove Kobe Bryant cannot be stopped, even by Jordan. Get in his head and it’s a different story.
Final Score
21-16.
Next?
There are some other matchups that would have been fun to watch. First on my list would be Julius Erving vs Jordan. Jordan would be the favorite, but this would be a tough match up because of the height difference.
I can’t tell you who would win in a Bird-Jordan matchup, but the game would be quick. Neither would be able to contain the other. If I was in Bird’s corner I’d send him to the baseline and tell him not to stop shooting until it was over one way or the other.
Jordan would stop Magic without too much trouble. Johnson’s game was the open court and I don’t see him having the quickness to set up much in a half court game against Jordan.
I could see Dominque Wilkins or Connie Hawkins being a matchup problem. But would either work hard enough on the defensive end to stop Jordan?
Walt Frazier would get muscled by Jordan, but if he could make a few outside shots it would be interesting until about 12 all. Pete Maravich could get on a roll long enough to make it interesting, but could he sustain?
What about LeBron? What about him? Jordan would shut him down for a 6-0 stretch and own the "international icon" for most of the rest. Maybe in a few years, but maybe not ever.
My last nominee is someone people have forgotten all too easily. George "The Iceman" Gervin. A matchup of those two would be a wild affair. Nobody, and I mean NOOOOOOOBODY could stop Gervin from scoring.
Not even Michael Jordan.
