Apparently Kobe and Jordan actually played 1 on 1

[tpols]

If they did go 1 on 1 that result wouldn't be surprising. Supposedly in one on one Michael Beasley used to destroy all comers including guys like Lebron James. One on one is not NBA team basketball. Things like passing ability, defensive awareness, how a guy handles pick and roll on both sides of the ball, of the ball play on both sides of the ball, and on and on don't matter. If the game is played make it, take it or you just don't have to win by two baskets some guy like Ja Morant would be unbeatable if he got the ball first.

The thing is Kobe had that all around game as well. Just as many dimes and rebounds, All NBA defense... clutch and majorly explosive scorers all the same. That's what makes it impressive. This isn't Beasley. Who would get torched by Mike or Kobe.

[marLeY baLL]

[Real Men Wear Green]

The thing is Kobe had that all around game as well. Just as many dimes and rebounds, All NBA defense... clutch and majorly explosive scorers all the same. That's what makes it impressive. This isn't Beasley. Who would get torched by Mike or Kobe.

So you're saying Kobe Bryant was good at basketball?

[3ba11]

If they did go 1 on 1 that result wouldn't be surprising.

Peak Kobe would might win 1 in 10 games against 80's Jordan

No one is talking about pre-baseball Jordan in any of these discussions.. He's the untouchable player when people talk about MJ being a god - they're talking about pre-baseball Jordan....

Otoh, post-baseball Jordan was closer to prime Kobe but still a decent margin between them.

[Phoenix]

If they did go 1 on 1 that result wouldn't be surprising. Supposedly in one on one Michael Beasley used to destroy all comers including guys like Lebron James. One on one is not NBA team basketball. Things like passing ability, defensive awareness, how a guy handles pick and roll on both sides of the ball, of the ball play on both sides of the ball, and on and on don't matter. If the game is played make it, take it or you just don't have to win by two baskets some guy like Ja Morant would be unbeatable if he got the ball first.

Exactly. I reckon 2002 Paul Pierce would beat 2002 MJ. Kobe doing it in that timeframe ( I'm guessing that is what is being referenced as it's not specified) should be a given, as it would be for guys like Tmac, Vince, Iverson etc at this point in their respective careers.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Exactly. I reckon 2002 Paul Pierce would beat 2002 MJ. Kobe doing it in that timeframe ( I'm guessing that is what is being referenced as it's not specified) should be a given, as it would be for guys like Tmac, Vince, Iverson etc at this point in their respective careers.

Beyond the fact that Jordan has declined the nature of one on one makes it a lot less meaningful in determining who is the better basketball player. Just about any NBA player that is quick, athletic and skilled would score on anyone if left on an island. No one could stay in front of Iverson, Carter, etc. When we talk about one guy stopping another guy solo its always a little misleading because there are bigs in the paint behind him and other defenders will help if the spacing isn't good. One on one is always great spacing so if Kobe or whoever decides to get to the rim he will.

[eliteballer]

Exactly. I reckon 2002 Paul Pierce would beat 2002 MJ. Kobe doing it in that timeframe ( I'm guessing that is what is being referenced as it's not specified) should be a given, as it would be for guys like Tmac, Vince, Iverson etc at this point in their respective careers.

Not sure what that guy is basing his estimate on, could be any Jordan after Kobe entered the nba.

[Phoenix]

Not sure what that guy is basing his estimate on, could be any Jordan after Kobe entered the nba.

No it's not clear what timeframe is being discussed. Kobe was in the league for 2 years of Chicago MJ. If it occurred during that timeframe we'd have never heard the end of it. Because you're talking about 18/19 year old Kobe against MJ who was still winning titles and MVPs at that point.

But, there's a well-known story( in basketball circles anyway) that Phil Jackson brought MJ in around 99 to talk to Kobe and in Phil's own words, Kobe told MJ 'I could kick your ass one on one'. I'm sure you're aware of that one. So that suggests there was no prior encounter, and whatever is being referenced by Salley would have been post-Bulls/Wizards MJ. Where along the spectrum of that timeline is anyone's guess. I don't think anytime after 2001 is all that noteworthy or surprising, because Kobe by then was a first team All-NBA/all-defense guy dropping 30 on the Spurs in the playoffs. I wouldn't expect MJ at that stage to do particularly well against that version of Kobe. He could probably get him on some post-ups, but he's gonna have a hard time getting around Kobe and even more an issue stopping him.

[Phoenix]

Beyond the fact that Jordan has declined the nature of one on one makes it a lot less meaningful in determining who is the better basketball player. Just about any NBA player that is quick, athletic and skilled would score on anyone if left on an island. No one could stay in front of Iverson, Carter, etc. When we talk about one guy stopping another guy solo its always a little misleading because there are bigs in the paint behind him and other defenders will help if the spacing isn't good. One on one is always great spacing so if Kobe or whoever decides to get to the rim he will.

Yeah, it's like judging someone like Magic Johnson's status as a player based on one on one. Dominique would have nuked Magic in a one on one. Heck I imagine James Worthy would have. Obviously their respective impacts in a 5 on 5 exist on different tiers.

[Naero]

Wouldn't surprise me. Prime Kobe's arguably the best one-on-one player of all time, at least for his position.

He just wasn't wasn't among the most impactful players of all time, such as Jordan, because it's a team game, and his playstyle left too much to be desired in that environment. But if you remove the need for teamwork, you remove his biggest weakness.

[ImKobe]

Peak Kobe would might win 1 in 10 games against 80's Jordan

No one is talking about pre-baseball Jordan in any of these discussions.. He's the untouchable player when people talk about MJ being a god - they're talking about pre-baseball Jordan....

Otoh, post-baseball Jordan was closer to prime Kobe but still a decent margin between them.

Kobe's 1 on 1 abilities are not to be questioned. I don't see how a younger, inexperienced Jordan would do better vs. peak Kobe when Jordan became a better shooter and a more skilled player in the post later on in his career. I don't think the athleticism part matters as much as the overall skill.

[Micku]

You missed the part where Salley says Jordan told him Kobe beat him 1 on 1.

He didn't say that. He was referencing a Stephen A Smith story and paraphrasing. Then John Salley said he, himself personally, called it one on one cuz of the 50 pt game. That wasn't one on one.

And the story that Stephen A Smith said is a famous one. Phil Jackson spoke about it. Here is the SAS story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCXIs2X3N8U

It's basically Kobe talking trash to MJ saying he would've beat him. MJ confirming that Kobe indeed thinks he could've beaten him, but MJ thinks in his prime he'll beat Kobe.

As far was we know, they never faced each other one on one. John Salley just added that in and said he considered to be one on one cuz of that Kobe 55 game.

[RRR3]

He didn't say that. He was referencing a Stephen A Smith story and paraphrasing. Then John Salley said he, himself personally, called it one on one cuz of the 50 pt game. That wasn't one on one.

And the story that Stephen A Smith said is a famous one. Phil Jackson spoke about it. Here is the SAS story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCXIs2X3N8U

It's basically Kobe talking trash to MJ saying he would've beat him. MJ confirming that Kobe indeed thinks he could've beaten him, but MJ thinks in his prime he'll beat Kobe.

As far was we know, they never faced each other one on one. John Salley just added that in and said he considered to be one on one cuz of that Kobe 55 game.

Poor eliteballer

[eliteballer]

He didn't say that. He was referencing a Stephen A Smith story and paraphrasing. Then John Salley said he, himself personally, called it one on one cuz of the 50 pt game. That wasn't one on one.

And the story that Stephen A Smith said is a famous one. Phil Jackson spoke about it. Here is the SAS story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCXIs2X3N8U

It's basically Kobe talking trash to MJ saying he would've beat him. MJ confirming that Kobe indeed thinks he could've beaten him, but MJ thinks in his prime he'll beat Kobe.

As far was we know, they never faced each other one on one. John Salley just added that in and said he considered to be one on one cuz of that Kobe 55 game.

No, watch it again. He talked about the 55 point game AFTER he said Jordan admitted Kobe beat him.

[RRR3]

No, watch it again. He talked about the 55 point game AFTER he said Jordan admitted Kobe beat him.

Typing through the tears.