Back in the day, Michael Jordan wasn’t just a competitor—he was an all-out alpha. The man simply hated losing. Whether it was a high-stakes NBA Finals or a low-key game of pool or golf, Jordan played everything like a Game 7. And basketball? That was his kingdom. Time and again, people would throw names at him—legends, icons, Hall of Famers—and ask who could take him one-on-one. The answer never changed. Only Kobe Bryant, he’d say.

But interestingly enough, MJ didn’t point fingers at the giants of the game when it came to one-on-one threats. Instead, he feared the quick ones. “The hardest opponent for me to play against? In terms of 1-on-1? Small guys,” he admitted in a JumpmanHistory video. “Allen Iverson, Damon Stoudamire, Rod Strickland… Muggsy [Bogues].”

According to MJ, size wasn’t always an advantage. He broke down how some guys, like John Starks, could get him on the perimeter—with his aggressive scoring mentality and ability to shoot from beyond the arc—but he always had the post game. Against a player like Starks, Jordan explained he might give him a little space on the perimeter to avoid getting beat by the drive but would then look to exploit his size advantage by taking him into the post.

“He’s so quick and small. But it’s a challenge. I won’t back away,” he added, showing that even at his peak, he had to work against the fast-footed guards. Then again, things took a fun turn when an old clip started making the rounds again. It was Jordan’s 60th birthday, and Jose Alvarado got asked if he could beat MJ now. “Happy birthday to the GOAT,” he smiled, then cheekily added, “I’m winning, I’m winning.” 

Still, Alvarado wasn’t trying to start beef. “All due respect to MJ, but you know he’s one of the goats, so I won’t take it personal. He probably just had fun with it. I’m gonna take it personal,” he laughed, before ending on a respectful note: “You know I’m gonna respect the GOAT so I’m gonna let him win actually… Let him win.”

While Michael Jordan acknowledged the challenges posed by quicker guards, his ultimate respect and the one potential threat he identified in a one-on-one matchup was another dominant scorer who mirrored his own relentless style and skill set.

Why did Michael Jordan say only Kobe Bryant could beat him?

Michael Jordan’s one-on-one wishlist wasn’t short. In an interview over a decade ago, the six-time champ looked back and listed all the legends he’d love to go up against. “If I was in my prime, who would I want to play one-on-one with? That list is very long,” he admitted. And honestly, with someone like Jordan, you know that list wasn’t going to be filled with easy names.

So naturally, he started strong. “I’d start off with Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant in his prime, LeBron [James] in his prime, [Dwyane] Wade in his prime, that’s a good start,” he shared. Big names. All-timers. Guys who ruled their eras just like he ruled his. But even with all that talent on the table, there is only one name Jordan singled out as a threat.

“I don’t think I’d lose, other than Kobe Bryant—because he steals all my moves,” MJ added. Bryant meticulously studied Jordan’s game, incorporating his fadeaway jumper, footwork in the post, aggressive drives to the basket, and even some of his mannerisms and competitive intensity, making him a mirror image of the player he idolized. And maybe he had a point. Bryant didn’t just idolize Jordan—he mirrored him. On the court, Kobe went 5-3 against him, averaging 22.8 points and four dimes a game. That’s not nothing.

And the respect went both ways. Flashback to the 1998 All-Star Game, And MJ’s only focus was a 19-year-old Kobe. “That little Lakers boy is going to want to take everybody one-on-one,” he warned his teammates. Of course, the East won, but that moment was just the start. Rivalry or not, the two would go on to share a deep bond far beyond basketball.