“Michael is the greatest to ever do it but…” Magic Johnson settles fiery debate between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant

Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are two of the most prominent names in the world of the NBA.

“Michael is the greatest to ever do it but…” Magic Johnson settles fiery debate between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant

Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant (Credits: Marca and People)

Magic Johnson developed intimate bonds with the two all-time great shooting guards. Ever since their playing days together, Michael Jordan has been a close friend and mentor to Kobe Bryant while he was a member of the Lakers. The mutual respect between Jordan and Johnson went much beyond that; they always gave each other compliments, which is why according to Johnson, Jordan is regarded as the best player in the world.

Johnson often displayed his big brother’s affection for Kobe Bryant. But Johnson always had a direct response when someone asked a question about Michael Jordan vs. Kobe Bryant. During a recent visit to the Jennifer Hudson show, Johnson made a comparison between the two players, praising Jordan as the best of all time while deeming Bryant as exceptional.

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Magic Johnson via the Jennifer Hudson Show, said,

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Kobe is probably the closest dude to Michael Jordan. Michale is the greatest that's ever played. But Kob in terms of how he was able to, his mannerisms like Michale, the way he approached the game like Michael.

The 64-year-old surely backed Jordan, but also, took the time to highlight Bryant’s legacy and praised his career. Johnson became upset when discussing his attendance at the opening of Bryant’s statue outside the Crypto.com Arena, before drawing the Jordan parallel. In addition, he praised Bryant for his five championship victories.

Michael Johnson was defeated by Michael Jordan in 1991

The 1991 Finals continue to rank among the NBA’s greatest moments in history. In addition to initiating the Chicago Bulls’ three-peat era under Michael Jordan, it was the first-ever final series, including both Magic Johnson and him. Passion was boiling high after the Bulls defeated the Lakers 4-1 to secure the championship. But Johnson is really happy about that loss.

Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan
Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan (Credits: Complex)

In the Last Dance documentary series by Johnson, he describes the feeling of losing against Jordan. He said, 

It's a beautiful feeling, if you are going to lose, you are going to lose to them. That's how it should be.

This specific line was the conclusion of the game. But after some years, in his documentary, he again described that feeling.

This gave an overview of the camaraderie among the NBA Hall of Famers. The players’ relationship outside of the court never wavered, even though they had to fight for the same awards on the court. As a result, after the final buzzer, their spirit of competition vanished as Johnson celebrated Jordan’s victory.

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