50 1-on-1 NBA Matchups We Would Love to See and Who Would Win

Who wouldn't want to see a one-on-one matchup between NBA stars who headline the league?

In a game to 21 using one- and two-point shots (with buckets, of course), there are 50 head-to-head scraps that would be sure to entertain almost anyone watching, and some of those might be a tad more competitive than some would predict.

Does your favorite star come out on top, or does he fall short to the opposition?

Let's take a look at who really has the leg up.

50. Andrea Bargnani vs. Brook Lopez

Two centers who can’t rebound the basketball go up against one another.

Andrea Bargnani has shown he can really light it up at times, but his inconsistency has become maddening, while Brook Lopez has had a bit more success serving as the primary offensive option for his team than Bargnani.

That doesn’t mean it would make him a sure-fire winner, but it certainly helps his case.

Winner: Lopez

49. DeMarcus Cousins vs. DeAndre Jordan

On paper, the answer might seem obvious, but the game isn’t played on paper.

DeAndre Jordan has the ability to really frustrate DeMarcus Cousins with his defensive prowess inside, and that could lead to poor choices from Cousins.

Jordan makes his living dunking the basketball, and without the ability to hit it from mid-range in a pickup game, it doesn’t bode well for his chances no matter how aggressively he plays defense down low.

Winner: Cousins

48. Jamal Crawford vs. O.J. Mayo

In a vacuum, who are you taking?

Both players are known for jacking up shots at less than opportune times, but each has a keen ability to catch fire and really drop buckets in a hurry.

Jamal Crawford has dropped 50 points in a single game for three different teams, so it’s awfully tough to go against him here.

Winner: Crawford

47. Paul Millsap vs. Carlos Boozer

Although fans of both the Jazz and Bulls might not have the greatest appreciation for these players, they’re both very sizable contributors.

Carlos Boozer may really struggle against the ferocity of Paul Millsap, as the latter’s game has far more physicality.

It would certainly be both fun and interesting to see the two go up against each other, as this matchup is sure to spark debate as to who might be the winner.

Winner: Millsap

46. Rodney Stuckey vs. George Hill

A matchup of tweener guards, both George Hill and Rodney Stuckey have really unique games that some may not be nearly familiar enough with, and that’s the purpose of this game.

While Stuckey has played a bigger role than Hill for their respective teams heretofore, Hill is ticketed for major minutes now that he’s found himself on a new team.

Hill gets the slight edge here because he can fill it up in a hurry, and in a game to 21, it’s all about who gets there first.

Winner: Hill

45. Elton Brand vs. Luis Scola

Who doesn’t like a classic game of one-on-one between two undersized power forwards?

While Elton Brand came into the league with considerably more expectations upon his shoulders than Luis Scola, the latter has really proven that he can get it done in a big way.

It’s going to take extra time to determine who comes out on top of this one.

Winner: Brand

44. Serge Ibaka vs. Emeka Okafor

In another very interesting matchup of defenders, Serge Ibaka’s mid-range game may very well give him the nod ahead of Emeka Okafor.

While the defensive-minded center can certainly protect the rim, Ibaka’s athleticism would give him a leg up on Okafor, who hasn’t developed in the way some had predicted since he's come into the league.

Winner: Ibaka

43. Raymond Felton vs. Mike Conley

Raymond Felton may have been traded twice since last season started, but it’s certainly not because he is an unwanted commodity.

He’s never been the most accurate shooter, but he finds creative ways to get his shot off, and that’s imperative in a game where nobody else is on his team.

On the flip side, Mike Conley can heat up at any moment from the outside, and that could very well result in a runaway victory.

Winner: Conley

42. Nicolas Batum vs. Danilo Gallinari

In a matchup of European studs, Nicolas Batum and Danilo Gallinari would really be an exciting head-to-head game to watch.

While Gallinari is well known for his ability to stroke the deep ball, he’s really developed his all-around game over the last couple of seasons, and he took well to a primary role in the offense during his first season in Denver.

On the other hand, Batum has shown flashes of his sky-high potential, and a game where it’s solely on him to produce could be where he flourishes.

Winner: Gallinari

41. Gerald Wallace vs. Lamar Odom

Gerald Wallace doesn’t really get a lot of notoriety for being one of the most versatile forwards in the league, but it would be a mistake not to include him on that list.

While Lamar Odom has proven to be capable of acclimating on the court, Wallace’s athleticism would really make this a difficult matchup.

All Wallace would have to do is force Odom to go to his right, an element of his game that’s been missing since he entered the league.

Winner: Wallace

40. Jrue Holiday vs. Brandon Jennings

Brandon Jennings may have been drafted in a higher slot than Jrue Holiday, but Holiday’s well-rounded game gives him the edge ahead of Jennings right now.

Although Jennings gets considerably more hype and coverage, Holiday took a huge step forward in his second season, and it’s alarming how little progression Jennings has shown since his inaugural campaign.

It might be a little gritty at first tip, but Holiday should pull away.

Winner: Holiday

39. James Harden vs. Ray Allen

James Harden’s athleticism is not something to be slept on, but neither is Ray Allen’s level of consistency.

With the ability to blow by defenders and score from both inside and out, Harden’s game has really taken off since he came into the league.

On the other hand, Allen has been bringing it at a high level since he came into the league, and he’s not slowing down despite getting older.

Who comes out on top? It may just be the one who catches fire from the outside.

Winner: Harden

38. Zach Randolph vs. LaMarcus Aldridge

These two guys were really overlooked prior to last season, but that was far from the case by the time the campaign concluded.

LaMarcus Aldridge would have to use more of his post-up game than he has shown in the past to get the edge over Zach Randolph, but his size and strength shouldn’t make that much of a problem.

Aldridge should win this one, but it wouldn't be a surprise if Randolph pulled the upset whatsoever.

Winner: Randolph

37. Al Horford vs. Nene

Two guys who should both be spending more time at power forward than they have get a chance to go off against one another.

While Nene has a keen ability to find the bottom of the basket within his comfort zone, Al Horford’s defense could prove to be pervasive enough to where it really throws the Brazilian big man off his game.

Winner: Nene

36. Brook Lopez vs. Joakim Noah

Lopez has a smooth jumper, while Joakim Noah’s looks like something off the playground.

Regardless, Noah has a defensive intensity that Lopez simply doesn’t, and that may prove to be his path to winning this one.

This would really be interesting to watch.

Winner: Noah

35. Chris Bosh vs. David West

David West is one of the more under-appreciated players around the NBA, and I really don’t understand why he doesn’t get more love.

He actually might be a much more effective player for the Heat considering his success on the pick n’ pop with Chris Paul in New Orleans, and the opportunities would be much greater in South Beach.

Regardless, West isn’t afraid to get physical, and that’s an element of Chris Bosh’s game that is absent far too often.

Winner: West

34. Andrew Bogut vs. Andrew Bynum

In a battle of centers whose stock have both dropped due to injury (and coincidentally, are both named Andrew), this round goes to Andrew Bogut.

The thing about Bogut is he’s far more dominating than most realize, and his moves in the low post are greater than Andrew Bynum’s at the present time.

They can both prove to be forces, and footwork is going to be instrumental in determining who may come out on top of this one.

Winner: Bogut

33. Brandon Jennings vs. Tony Parker

At first glance, this may seem like a rather odd matchup, but it’s one that features two drastically different players.

Tony Parker looks for every way possible to attack the rim, and Jennings is going to have to show some defensive intensity if he has a prayer of keeping up in this one.

This might really be one where people see the final score and start to question just how high Jennings ranks at the position.

Winner: Parker

32. Luol Deng vs. Andre Iguodala

Both players are really underrated perimeter defenders, and that makes this matchup a really intriguing one.

With both players known for their ability to lock down on the defensive end, this one might take a little longer to get to 21 than some of the others.

I like Luol Deng slightly in this one only because of his ability to score from more areas of the court than Andre Iguodala has shown recently.

Winner: Deng

31. Rudy Gay vs. Andre Iguodala

Don’t sleep on Rudy Gay.

Not only would a lot more people be talking about how good he is had he not sustained a season-ending shoulder injury, but he would also be regarded much more highly than he is among some fans.

He’d come up huge in a game against Iguodala, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a blowout in favor of Gay.

Winner: Gay

30. Blake Griffin vs. Josh Smith

This is all about freakish athleticism.

Josh Smith and Blake Griffin are both leading candidates for most athletic player in the league, and this would be a battle of high-flying slam dunks.

While Smoove’s ability to hit it from beyond 15 feet may provide a minor advantage, it could also lead to more settling and potentially poor decisions.

Winner: Griffin

29. Marc Gasol vs. Pau Gasol

What’s more entertaining than a battle of the Gasol brothers?

While some advocate that Marc is better than Pau right now, he’s got to do it on a far more consistent basis before he takes the crown.

The older Gasol has an edge in the mid-range jumper department, but Marc could really bang around down low and cause some serious problems.

Winner: P. Gasol

28. Ron Artest vs. Stephen Jackson

This would definitely be an intense square-off, and there’s no question that neither is going to back down from the other.

While Ron Artest’s offensive production has been more prolific earlier in his career than it is currently, it’s tough to predict when he might catch fire on that end.

Stephen Jackson has never had the highest field goal percentage, but in a game that would likely have a fair number of clanks off the rim, it probably wouldn’t matter much as long as he can get past Artest.

Winner: Artest

27. Kevin Love vs. LaMarcus Aldridge

Aldridge isn’t a name that gets tossed out for the next big thing at power forward, but he certainly should be.

Given his size, Aldridge could absolutely dominate Kevin Love in the low post, and he has the defensive wherewithal to keep up with him on the perimeter as well.

Aldridge might not be able to step out and hit a three like Love, but he’s got a leg up in a head-to-head game.

Winner: Aldridge

26. Al Horford vs. LaMarcus Aldridge

It’s just a hunch, but I have a strong feeling that we’d be talking a lot more about Horford if he were lining up at his natural power forward position.

With surprising strength and skill, Horford has very quietly emerged as a legitimate top-30 player in the league, something many weren’t expecting upon his being drafted.

This would be a fantastic matchup—one that could really go either way.

Winner: Aldridge

25. Steve Nash vs. Jason Kidd

It'd be awesome to see two future Hall of Fame point guards get scrappy in a game against each other.

While both are obviously acclaimed for the ability to drop dimes like it was something easy, only one would have the chance to emerge as the victor.

Steve Nash was back-to-back MVP of the league, and as historic as Jason Kidd’s career has been, there’s no reason for me to take anybody but Nash in this one.

Winner: Nash

24. Wes Matthews vs. Marcus Thornton

Two guards who both flew largely under the radar prior to last season duke it out in what promises to be a barrage of offense from beyond the arc.

Wes Matthews and Marcus Thornton both make their living from the perimeter, and this particular game would come down to which player can get in a zone first.

Many were quick to fall in love with Matthews’ game in Portland last season, but Thornton looked like a different player when he got to Sacramento.

Winner: Matthews

23. Tyson Chandler vs. Joakim Noah

Who doesn’t want to see an intense battle between defensive-minded centers?

Noah’s jump shot is ugly, and Tyson Chandler’s game doesn’t extend very far from the bucket, but neither one is going to back down from the other when the opposite tries to take the rock to the hole.

Chandler’s career year has his stock raised a little higher than I feel comfortable with, but he’s still my pick in this one.

Winner: Chandler

22. Roy Hibbert vs. Greg Monroe

Get used to talking about these two guys for a fair amount of time.

While Roy Hibbert is a little bit more of a low-post banger than Greg Monroe, the latter can certainly hold his own beneath the bucket, even if he does give up a few inches and some sizable weight to Hibbert.

Hibbert would likely emerge on top, and it’s a good thing he can’t foul out of a pickup game.

Winner: Hibbert

21. Eric Gordon vs. Joe Johnson

Here’s an interesting question: Which is the player the Hawks would rather have right now? It might not be the one you think.

While Joe Johnson has drawn major scrutiny because many feel he’s not worth the maximum contract he signed, Eric Gordon is rapidly emerging as a franchise face for the Clippers, and his ceiling is extraordinarily high.

Winner: Gordon

20. Paul Pierce vs. Manu Ginobili

A battle of veterans may not be exciting to some, but count me in for a salty battle between Manu Ginobili and Paul Pierce.

Both are seriously committed to the game that they so obviously love, and that inevitably leads to a great matchup.

Pierce should be able to get the best of Ginobili solely because of his inclination to come up clutch, but it may be closer than Boston fans would like to admit.

Winner: Pierce

19. Amar'e Stoudemire vs. Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh and Amar'e Stoudemire are going to be Eastern Conference foes for the next several years, and the comparisons between them will soon become inevitable.

They shouldn’t be.

Stoudemire would likely dominate the solo action, and it’s next to impossible to imagine how Bosh would have any sort of advantage over him.

Winner: Stoudemire

18. Tyreke Evans vs. Monta Ellis

A matchup of players who have been listed frequently as both point and shooting guards, there would be crossover moves for days in this one.

Tyreke Evans has worked hard on his jumper to improve his game away from the rim, and Monta Ellis can score from a variety of spots on the floor.

Who are you taking?

Winner: Evans

17. Dirk Nowitzki vs. Kevin Garnett

Who wouldn’t want to see this one play out? Seriously.

It’s really interesting how different their approach to the game is, and it would make for an entertaining affair between the two.

Kevin Garnett makes his living off the intensity he brings to the game, while Dirk Nowitzki is known never to blink with the opposition breathing down his neck.

Winner: Nowitzki

16. Derrick Rose vs. Deron Williams

Derrick Rose is a one-man band looking to take on all of the elite point guards in the NBA, and a matchup against Deron Williams is too tantalizing to ignore.

The one area of advantage where Williams might get a leg up is in the size department, but that doesn’t indicate that he’s in line for a win.

Rose has the explosion to get by D-Will.

Winner: Rose

15. Zach Randolph vs. Blake Griffin

It wasn’t long ago that Randolph was seen as an undersized, overweight power forward.

Now, he’s emerged as a top-25 player in the league and one of the most talented players at his position.

Would he be able to get a leg up over Griffin’s athleticism? He’d certainly force the exciting young gun to play more defense than he’s used to doing.

Winner: Griffin

14. Dwight Howard vs. Andrew Bynum

There would be an overwhelming number of Lakers fans watching this one, as there will be comparisons between the two as long as Dwight Howard’s free agency remains a relevant topic of discussion.

Although Bynum has shown flashes of brilliance, Howard would absolutely eat him alive in the post, and Bynum just doesn’t have the aggression in his game yet to contend with the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.

Howard should show Bynum exactly why there’s such a large divide between him and the rest of the centers in the league.

Winner: Howard

13. Derrick Rose vs. Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook can shoot all he wants in a game of one-on-one, but it’s not going to get him past Rose.

The man who carried the Bulls on his back should have no problem getting past Westbrook, and it’s not going to be as close as many would think.

Westbrook definitely has an advantage in the length department, but to think that Rose is going to let him use it to a competitive edge is laughable.

Winner: Rose

12. Stephen Curry vs. Eric Gordon

Two of the great young talents in the league in a head-to-head game would definitely fill the stands.

Eric Gordon and Stephen Curry both excel from the perimeter, and a barrage of three-point shots is always a fun show to watch.

We’re going to be talking about these two guys for years to come.

Winner: Curry

11. Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

Scorer vs. scorer is always an entertaining battle to watch.

There is often some dissension when discussing who the better pure scorer is, Carmelo Anthony or Kevin Durant, and it would certainly be fun to see the two of them battle it out in a game of one-on-one.

Would Durant prove that he’s the new kid on the block?

Winner: Durant

10. Dirk Nowitzki vs. Pau Gasol

Some people believe that Nowitzki is the best player to ever grace the NBA from the European ranks, but others contend that title belongs to Gasol.

Gasol brings a lot to love to the table, but there’s no chance he can effectively guard Nowitzki by himself, as we saw the German product run circles around him last season.

Winner: Nowitzki

9. Monta Ellis vs. Stephen Curry

Would it determine whom the club should build around going forward? No, but some people would probably like it to do exactly that.

I’m still firmly in the camp that the two can co-exist, but I’m in the overwhelming minority when it comes to that issue.

Regardless, these two are fun to watch when they’re on the same side, so just imagine if they were going against each other with just a single ball and standing on opposite sides.

Winner: Ellis

8. John Wall vs. Derrick Rose

This debate has really heated up over the summer after John Wall went on a series of dominating performances in exhibitions, but I’m not ready to even put the two in the same conversation.

Wall is definitely an exciting player, but Rose was the youngest MVP in league history to ever take home the title.

I’m not sure enough people really take into account how great of an accomplishment that truly is, and until Wall shows improvement in his game like Rose has between seasons, I’ll take Rose every time.

Winner: Rose

7. Chris Paul vs. Deron Williams

Who’s the best point guard in the league?

Both Paul and Williams have their fair share of supporters, but a new crop of contenders is suddenly rising through the ranks.

There’s no doubt that this would be a fiery matchup with a ton of intensity, and it’s going to be a really close call.

Winner: Paul

6. Blake Griffin vs. Kevin Love

Who’s going to be the next face of the power forward position?

Although Griffin’s approach is of the high-flying variety, Love’s game extends out to the perimeter with great success.

This one might very well be the closest of any of the matchups listed, but I’m going to have to give the edge to Griffin for his ability to soar over just about anybody.

Winner: Griffin

5. Tim Duncan vs. Kevin Garnett

In the battle of who is truly the best power forward of the generation, this matchup makes me a little nostalgic.

Both have post moves that other big men could only dream about, but this is really a battle of intensity against fundamentals.

Garnett would certainly give him a good run, but how many times have you seen Tim Duncan miss off the glass?

Winner: Duncan

4. Derrick Rose vs. Chris Paul

Here’s a game of one-on-one that I’d have no problem with watching on repeat if NBA TV were to air it after it went down.

In a heated matchup between the two players, it would be very intriguing to see if Rose’s speed could prove to be the deciding element in who comes out on top.

Paul is a better offensive player (outside of his passing) than he gets credit for, and he’d have a chance to show it.

Winner: Rose

3. Kobe Bryant vs. Dwyane Wade

There’s some extensive debate about who is better right now, and there is obvious variance among fans about which player they would take.

While Dwyane Wade has taken a backseat for many to Kobe Bryant in previous years, it certainly seems as if there is growing momentum among the general public that Wade’s time to surpass Bryant has arrived.

Would a head-to-head game be the answer to the question? Absolutely not, but it would make for great debate on the topic.

Winner: Bryant

2. Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James

Is LeBron James more athletic than Kevin Durant? Yes. Is he stronger than Durant? Absolutely. Does that make him the favorite to win in a game against one another? No.

Durant can score from just about anywhere, and James struggles with his jumper at times. So what’s the key to a Durant victory? Make James shoot the rock.

We’ve seen him struggle, as he has a propensity to settle rather than use his athleticism to an advantage, and if K.D. forced him into doing exactly that, it could go his way.

Winner: James

1. Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James

This is the one we always want to see, and it’s been the subject of discussion since James came into the league.

Would James’ athleticism give him the edge? Would Bryant’s post-up game prove to be too much of a tall task?

There’s every reason to believe that this would be a fantastic matchup to watch, and there isn’t a fan of basketball who wouldn’t want to see it go down.

Winner: Bryant