Friendly Dispute with Kobe Bryant Over Dream Team Supremacy Proves MJ Knows Best

Kobe Bryant has never been short on confidence, so why would he start now with the Summer Olympics just around the corner?

If today's Team USA faced 1992's original Dream Team, Bryant believes his version would have the edge (via USA Today's Reid Cherner): "It'd be a tough one, but I think we'd pull it out."

Not so fast, says Michael Jordan.

According to AP sports writer Steve Reed, MJ is taking exception to Bryant's conclusion, saying, "For him to compare those two teams is not one of the smarter things he ever could have done."

Of course, Bryant was asked the question. It's not as if he started the conversation.

Moreover, what else is he going to say? It's hard to imagine anyone modestly diminishing the ability of his own team on the eve of Olympic competition. 

To Bryant's credit, he also conceded that it would be a closely-contested match and even prefaced his conclusion with, "I don't know..."

In the final analysis, though, Jordan is absolutely correct.

To hear Kobe's explanation, the original Dream Team had the size advantage, but the current manifestation is more youthful and athletic on the wing.

Jordan correctly notes, though, that the original crew wasn't as old as advertised. Maybe they just seem that way now. The Charlotte Bobcats owner rattled off a list of players who were in the 20s, including himself, Scottie Pippen, Chris Mullin, Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing.

There's no question that the likes of LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony has a significant advantage when it comes to their length and quickness.

But as Jordan pointed out, the old guard knew how to play the game. It's hard to estimate basketball IQ in an age where fundamentally sound skills have become something of a vestigial appendage in the NBA.

And, what about the painted area?

Kevin Love and Blake Griffin wouldn't have an easy time against the likes of Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing and David Robinson. The modern day iteration of the Dream Team might excel at slashing to the paint, but they'd meet fierce resistance once there.

There's also the small matter of shooting.

Between Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Chris Mullin and Jordan, this group had some exceptional perimeter threats–and John Stockton feeding them the ball.

Would it be a close game? Almost certainly.

Both sides have a combination of skills and talent that truly reflect the finest of their generations. And a team with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant has to be taken seriously.

There's little doubt that Jordan would do just that.