In a sport dominated by great players across many years – the likes of Bill Russell, Michael Jordan and LeBron James all dominated the league in their respective eras – the debate about who goes down as the best basketball player of all-time has raged on fiercely. But while the question about who is the GOAT is the subject of much interest, there is perhaps less to argue about when it comes to the greatest NBA coach of all-time.
Phil Jackson’s reign at the top of both the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers has etched his name into folklore, delivering incredible success with both franchises. Whether it was implementing the much-vaunted triangle offense starring the likes of Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman with the Bulls, or getting the best out of both Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal with the Lakers, Jackson’s work is rightly heralded.
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Jackson would witness Jordan and Bryant in particular achieve greatness and underline their status as being the best basketball player in the world at the time, and as such, is better placed than perhaps anyone else on the planet to cast his verdict on the two.
Phil Jackson Revealed Who He’d Pick in a 1v1 Matchup Between Jordan and Bryant
After winning the Bulls’ final title of the Jordan era in 1998, Jackson left Chicago and vowed never to coach again, but was tempted out of retirement by being offered the head coaching job at the Los Angeles Lakers just a year later. It was during those early stages of his time with the Lakers, that Jackson said he recalled one particular encounter between Jordan and Bryant.
I had the team—probably still 1999—when I was coaching the Lakers. Michael was out; he’d been retired for a year, and he comes to a ball game. “I say, ‘Let’s meet in the Chairman’s Room after the game. I want you to talk to Kobe a little bit. So we get in this room, and Michael sits down. The first thing Kobe says is, ‘I can kick your a** one-on-one. No conversation, nothing. Jordan responded by saying ‘You might. You just might. I’ve been out of the game a couple of years—you just might.’
Given his extraordinary success coaching both players, the question of who would win in a 1v1 match-up between Jordan and Bryant may have caused a headache. Instead, Jackson was pretty clear on who he thought would come out on top.
It’s going to be MJ. He’s got that hand. He’s got that glove, as the glove used to be known. But when a guy can pick the ball up with one hand when he’s dribbling like Michael, could that and take the ball to the basket, it’s very difficult.
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Jordan vs Bryant Would Have Made for a Legendary Clash
Two of the greatest basketball players of all-time, and among the best scorers the game has ever seen too, it would have been truly fascinating to see a matchup between Jordan and Bryant. The duo’s similar winning mentality would have created real drama and suspense as to who would come out on top, with both possessing all the tools in the locker to get the shot that they wanted.
In his memoir, ‘Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success’, Jackson further opined on the differences between Jordan and Bryant, suggesting that the latter could force himself into a rut and struggle to get out of it.
Jordan was also more naturally inclined to let the game come to him and not overplay his hand, whereas Kobe tends to force the action, especially when the game isn’t going his way. When his shot is off, Kobe will pound away relentlessly until his luck turns.
Michael, on the other hand, would shift his attention to defense or passing or setting screens to help the team win the game. No question, Michael was a tougher, more intimidating defender. He could break through virtually any screen and shut down almost any player with his intense, laser-focused style of defense.
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Leaders of men, Jordan and Bryant carried their franchises to enormous success, often demanding the ball in clutch situations and taking the make-or-break shot. Everybody knew that when the game was on the line, the two would be the stars to step up when counted and take all the responsibility with it.
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Michael Jordan vs Kobe Bryant (Career Stats) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Michael Jordan |
Stat |
Kobe Bryant |
|
30.1 |
Points per game |
25.0 |
|
5.3 |
Assists per game |
4.7 |
|
6.2 |
Rebounds per game |
5.2 |
|
2.3 |
Steals per game |
1.4 |
|
0.8 |
Blocks per game |
0.5 |
|
5x MVP, 6x Finals MVP, 14x All-Star, 10x All-NBA First Team, 1x All-NBA Second Team, 1x DPOY |
Career awards |
1x MVP, 2x Finals MVP, 18x All-Star, 11x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team |
|
6 |
NBA titles |
5 |
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Jackson’s time with both the Bulls and Lakers saw a number of titles come his way, and while of course he was helped by the sheer level of talent he had at his disposal, perhaps nobody else in the history of the game could have better managed the kind of egos and pride that would have come with dealing with superstars.
Jackson was there from start to finish for both the primes of Jordan and Bryant, so it is pretty unequivocal when even he, is quite clear that the former would win a 1v1 contest. While ardent fans of both players would back their own man, the NBA’s greatest coach has delivered the biggest verdict.
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