If Michael Jordan And Kobe Bryant Were One On One, Who Would Win?

Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant (Photo: Marca)

JAKARTA - Legendary basketball coach Phil Jackson reveals who he believes will win in a one-on-one match between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, two of the greatest players in basketball history.

Jackson coached both players with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers, winning a total of 11 NBA championship rings at that time: six with Jordan (Bulls), five with Kobe (Lakers).

Bryant has, in many ways, been seen emulating Jordan and that has made many contemplate who will win in a game featuring only two players.

"This is an interesting situation because around 2000 I had a team, I coached the Lakers," said Jackson on FOX Sports in 2014 quoted from MARCA, Monday, November 2.

"Michael has been retired for a year and he came to the game and said, 'let's talk in your room after the game, I want you to have a little talk with Kobe.'

"He intends to take over the game and I think you can convince him to wait, be patient, let the game come to him when it is necessary for some thing because the team seemed to lose its offensive direction so I walked into the room and he sat down, the first thing Kobe said was 'I can kick your ass one on one.' "

After remembering this anecdote, Jackson gave his views on who would win this hypothetical match.

"(The winner) is MJ," he said. "He has magic hands; when a player can take the ball with one hand while he is dribbling, like you know Michael can do and do that and getting the ball in the basket is very difficult."

Unfortunately, the duel between Kobe and Michael never happened. They have always respected each other and, as was shown when Bryant died in a fatal helicopter crash in January, Jordan always thought of him as his younger brother.