"I always felt Jordan was more efficient.” - Grant Hill compares how to guard Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant
Grant Hill was ready to be the new top star of the NBA because of his productivity during his prime in the mid-1990s. Unfortunately, his injuries prevented him from keeping up his stardom, but he had a resurgence as a reliable role player in the second half of his career.
Throughout his illustrious career, Hill experienced playing against some of the best perimeter players ever. The two standout matchups for him were Michael Jordan in the first half of his career and Kobe Bryant during his prime in the late 2000s.
"I always felt Jordan was more efficient. Jordan kinda got what he wanted. Sometimes with Kobe, there was always a degree of difficulty," Hill said on The Dan Patrick Show in 2014. "Having played against both, Jordan would get his 30-35-40 in the rhythm and flow of the triangle offense… Kobe would do anything, he was not gonna always trust the offense. He would break it and go because he was capable of doing so, and he had the green light to do so."
MJ and Kobe are always compared to each other
As soon as Kobe entered the league, people started to compare him to Michael because of their similar stature. They both stood at 6'6" and had similar physical traits like wingspan and athleticism. Kobe made it a point to emulate what MJ did to succeed, like his restless work ethic behind the scenes.
Both shooting guard superstars are well known for their competitive drive, another reason they are compared to each other. It is fair to keep comparing them because Bryant became a better player when he kept learning from MJ, whom he considered a "big brother" and mentor.
"We hit it off very well, said Kobe Bryant. He was really like a big brother, and whether it's because we see things in a similar way in terms of our competitive spirit or fire or whatever the case may be, there's an understanding that we have—a connection that we have."
Since Hill played against both of these players during their primes, he should be a respected figure when speaking about these players. Grant was the primary defender for both players. While he could not stop either, he learned plenty of lessons about Jordan and Bryant.
Both MJ and Kobe deserve their place in NBA history
Jordan and Bryant earned their way to becoming two of the best players in the NBA's history. They cemented themselves as legends by becoming undeniable superstars through their work on the offensive side of the ball and as defensive stars. They are the best examples of versatile shooting guards, firmly proving they are both generational talents.
Hill discussed the differences between the two, particularly their play styles and personalities. Jordan was a much more decisive player because he knew what would be an effective way to play. Bryant had to force a lot of plays to compensate for the roster's lack of talent.
They are different people with some similarities in their game. Grant knew that, and when he learned how they played first-hand, he knew the differences and assessed both players accordingly.
