Kobe Bryant's response to Oscar Robertson saying "he'd beat him in a game of 1-on-1"
Kobe Bryant is regarded as one of the best 1-on-1 players in NBA history -- his track record backs this claim. Still, that didn't stop Oscar Robertson from betting on himself in a potential matchup with the Lakers legend.
"That's what I do"
From playing Kyrie Irving, betting $50K on it, to smoking Tracy McGrady during a camp in Germany, Kobe has had a fair share of epic 1-on-1 clashes. And what do they all have in common? Bryant came out on top in all. It makes you wonder - did anyone ever beat Kobe in a game of 1-on-1?
"No one," Bryant himself said during a postgame interview. "That's what I do. If there's gonna be a player to beat me, he retired on that last shot in Utah in '98."
Back in 2013, during the promo campaign for NBA 2K14, the guy who retired on that last shot in Utah in '98, aka Michael Jordan, mentioned a group of guys he'd like to face in a game of 1v1. The list includes Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Julius Erving, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James. But according to MJ, there's only one guy who'd stand a chance to win.
I don't think I would lose — other than to Kobe Bryant because he steals all of my moves.
Michael Jordan, NBA 2K
"I'd beat Kobe Bryant"
Both MJ and Kobe agree no one else comes close to them in terms of their 1-on-1 abilities. That's until Oscar Robertson decided to insert his name into the discussion. Now, he didn't go as far as to say he'd beat Jordan. But when it comes to playing the Lakers legend, Mr. Triple Double had no doubt about who'd come out on top.
Most people would agree this is a situation where the teacher became a student. But Oscar warned us -- don't write him off just yet. NBA 2K22 is his best chance to back up his trash talk. Kobe will sure have something to say about it.
