Nevertheless, the debate over the second greatest NBA player is fervent, with Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, and Magic Johnson all contenders. In the contemporary era, the late Bryant and James also stand among these titans. Jordan once candidly shared his thoughts on their comparison.

When posed with the Kobe versus LeBron question in 2013, Jordan humorously quipped, “I mean, that’s a tough one. I would say… Kevin Durant.” Delving deeper, he noted, “In terms of the dominance of the game of basketball, at this stage it’s LeBron. Championship-wise Kobe Bryant.” He praised Bryant’s relentless drive, highlighting his willingness to push boundaries even in his later years, saying, “He wants it so bad and he’s willing to go to the extreme. Guarding a guy. Guarding a point guard at the age of 34, playing 38 minutes, and 40 minutes. It’s ludicrous.” Jordan acknowledged the complexity of the comparison, emphasizing the competitive spirit shared by both players, stating, “I think this is what he’s battling with. It is what it is. He’s cursed as much as I am. If you had to pick between the two that would be a tough choice, and five [players] beat one.”

Bryant, who won five NBA titles with the Lakers, and Jordan were close friends until the former’s death in a helicopter crash in January 2020.

Speaking at a memorial service for Bryant, a tearful Jordan said: “When Kobe Bryant died, a piece of me died.

“Maybe it surprised people … but we were very close friends. Everyone always wanted to talk about the comparisons between him and me. I just wanted to talk about Kobe.”

Jordan added that Bryant had come to him for advice during his career.”At first, it was an aggravation,” Jordan explained. “But then it turned into a certain passion. This kid had passion like you would never know… As I got to know him, I wanted to be the best big brother that I could be.”