Michael Jordan is, in the minds of many, basketball’s greatest ever player – but the man himself once named another who he feels who could beat him one on one.
Jordan is a six-time NBA Champion following a legendary spell with the Chicago Bulls and an extraordinary career on the court.
As well as winning six NBA titles, Jordan was crowned the MVP in the NBA Finals a total of six times, as well as being named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player overall on five instances after playing for the Bulls and the Washington Wizards.
The 61-year-old’s influence goes beyond the court with exploits beyond that sphere.
Jordan developed a partnership with Nike on his Air Jordan trainers, which has become one of the most recognisable sneaker brands in the world.
He also turned his attentions to the big screen in the 1996 film Space Jam and was the focus of Emmy-winning documentary series The Last Dance in 2020, which appeared on internet streaming service Netflix.
Few would debate that Jordan is one of, if not the, greatest player of all time to grace the court, though there have been truly legendary figures to play the sport since Jordan retired in 2003.
And Jordan once claimed there was only one other player who could beat him in his prime.
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That player is the late, great, Kobe Bryant, who tragically lost his life at the age of 41 along with his daughter Gianna and seven other people in a helicopter crash in 2020.
Bryant runs Jordan close in the basketball GOAT verdict, with the former being NBA Champion on five occasions during his time at the LA Lakers.
In an interview more than 10 years ago before Bryant passed away, Jordan went through the players who could take him on in his prime.
He mentioned Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, LeBron James and Dwayne Wade as players who could rival him, but that only Bryant would come on top against him, thanks to imitating his moves on the court.
He said: “If I was in my prime, who would I want to play one on one with? That’s list is very long.
“I’d start off with Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant in his prime, LeBron in his prime, D Wade in his prime, that’s a good start.
“I don’t think I’d lose, other than Kobe Bryant, because he steals all my moves.”