Michael Jordan Revealed the 6 NBA Legends He Dreams of Playing 1v1

If the NBA were to have a one-v-one tournament featuring the best basketball players on the planet, it would be quite the nail-biting competition. Just who would feature, and who would come out on top? Naturally, Michael Jordan would fancy his chances of winning it all given how many consider him to be the greatest player of all-time.

Out of all the Hall of Fame stars, All-NBA selections and MVP winners, would there be anyone who could seriously challenge him? Regardless of that, Jordan did reveal that he dreamed of facing one-v-one if they were all in their prime.

The star of The Last Dance documentary name-checked six players – all of whom can be considered legends of the game – and it’s fair to say that it’s a mouthwatering prospect to even think about Jordan pitting his wits against these stars in even a hypothetical world.

Find out who they were below, as well as some extra comments from Jordan on the respective players.

6

Jerry West

Alongside Gail Goodrich, Jerry West formed one of the best backcourts in NBA history, and while it may not have resulted in a lot of championship success – just the one for that matter – there’s no questioning the Los Angeles Lakers icon’s ability.

A guard who had as complete a game as any, West could shoot, handle the ball well and pass with precision. Able to get to the basket with his tight handles and footwork, West was just as capable of pulling up from mid-range and sinking it in. When you then add in the fact that he was also an elite defender – he was named to the All-Defensive First Team on multiple occasions – West would certainly pose a challenge to Jordan in a one-v-one.

5

Elgin Baylor

At 6 foot 5, Elgin Baylor belied his height by being one of the best rebounders of his era, with his athleticism a standout factor in his greatness. But aside from his physical gifts, the Los Angeles Lakers legend had a unique ability to hit impossible shots, including layups that featured great acrobatics. Baylor would put it all together in a remarkable scoring performance in 1960, when he scored 71 points in a then-NBA record.

Such was Baylor’s legacy, that Jordan even revealed that when he came into the league, all the comparisons surrounded who would become the next Julius Erving or the next Baylor.

4

LeBron James

Unsurprisingly, Michael Jordan also picked LeBron James as one of the six men who he dreamed of playing 1v1 in his prime. LeBron continues to defy his age and logic by being one of the best players in the league today even despite him entering his 40s. While some of the speed and explosiveness may have gone, at his peak, LeBron was an unstoppable force who could throw down monster slams and bulldoze past players trying to guard him.

Armed with his exceptional physical ability and elite IQ – you only had to watch him break down the x’s and o’s while on his podcast with JJ Redick – LeBron’s size and power would make him a nightmare match-up for Jordan from a one-vs-one perspective.

3

Dwyane Wade

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One of the all-time greats of the Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade was named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team. The shooting guard goes down as one of the best in history in his position, and you can see why Jordan himself was enamoured with him. Wade also had the speed and explosiveness of the Chicago Bulls legend, while just like Jordan, he could turn up on the biggest of occasions with a clutch performance.

Wade’s slashing ability and finishing at the rim were second-to-none, while defensively, he was quite an incredible shot blocker – perhaps not surprising when you consider his leaping ability. Wade went from being the star of the show in his first NBA title triumph, to being the main supporting act for LeBron James when the Heat formed the Big Three and claimed another couple of championships.

Such was Jordan’s respect and admiration for Wade, that in 2009, he talked up the shooting guard’s chances of winning the MVP award.

2

Carmelo Anthony

One of the greatest scorers of the modern era, Carmelo Anthony put the New York Knicks on his back during the 2010s. Armed with a smooth jumper and the ability to pull up from anywhere, including from well behind the three-point line, Anthony was a three-level scorer in the truest sense.

Melo was a high-volume scorer for a number of years for the Knicks, earning All-Star recognition on a yearly basis – indeed, he had a stretch of 10 selections from 2007 onwards. Anthony would also lead the league in scoring in 2013, which would also see him named to the All-NBA Second Team for the second time in his career.

A 6 foot 7 forward who could play at either the three or the four, Anthony may not have won a championship in his time as an NBA player, but there’s no questioning that in his prime, he was a very difficult match-up to say the least.

1

Kobe Bryant

And finally, the man who Michael Jordan revealed he would also relish the chance of playing 1v1 is Kobe Bryant. Indeed, the Los Angeles Lakers legend is the only star who Jordan said he could potentially lose to out of the six, citing jokingly that Bryant had stolen all his moves.

Much like Jordan’s drive to win, Bryant had his famed ‘Mamba Mentality’ which focused on his relentless desire to better himself – in the end, the late, great Lakers star won five championships, just one behind Jordan. A master in the mid-range, Kobe’s footwork and deadly fadeaway made him virtually impossible to stop when in his rhythm.

Indeed, his 81-point effort ranks as the second-most in NBA history, while Bryant stepped up his game in the playoffs. Evolving from being in a double act alongside Shaquille O’Neal in the Lakers’ three-peat, to being the undisputed main man for his last couple of titles, Bryant was seen as Jordan’s little brother. So much so that at Kobe’s funeral, Jordan shed some insight into the Lakers legend wanting his advice and to learn from him.