NBA: Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and the Greatest Pick-Up Game Ever
After the All-Star game, the idea of having new players play against old players came to fruition.
This is just a fun idea of matching up the best players now with the best players ever.
Every single position on this list can be argued, and the results are just my opinions, but it’s a pretty solid list.
This was just a fun piece and is completely opinion so don’t take it so seriously! Enjoy!
PG: Magic Johnson v. Derrick Rose
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This first matchup could be the most important of all.
As a point guard, your job is to set up the plays and get your team in the right position in the offensive zone.
Starting at point guard for Team Old School will be Magic Johnson.
At 6’9”, he is not built like a point guard. The size advantage will give him the advantage over Team New School point guard Derrick Rose.
Magic Johnson averaged 11.2 assists per game, which ranks him first in NBA history in that category, while Rose is averaging 6.7 assists per game through his first three seasons in the NBA.
While Rose can drive the basket to score, or pull up and drain the ball, he has never faced the likes of Johnson defensively.
Johnson would be able to have his way with the much smaller Rose and take shots with little contention.
SG: Michael Jordan v. Kobe Bryant
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The best part of the matchup at shooting guard is that we've seen this show before.
When Kobe was just getting into the league in the late 1990s, Jordan was on his way out.
There were a few years of solid games, but neither was at their prime. If both were at their peak, the game would be closer then we think.
There is no doubting that Michael Jordan is the best.
Jordan averaged 30.1 points per game throughout his career, which is the best in NBA history, while adding 5,633 assists.
Michael Jordan wasn’t out there to pass, though.
Playing solid defense on Jordan—and adding scoring of his own for team New School—would be Kobe Bryant.
Bryant average 25.3 points per game throughout his career, and ranks tenth in NBA history.
This, of all the matchups, would be the most interesting to watch, again.
SF: Larry Bird v. LeBron James
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This matchup was the hardest for me to break down.
Team New School’s player at small forward would be LeBron James, and there are a very slim number of people in the history of the NBA who could possibly guard him.
LeBron is third in NBA history with 27.7 points per game, while adding seven assists per game.
With his added size James is a beast—but Team Old School has its answer: Larry Bird.
What Bird loses in weight to LeBron, he makes up for with one of the smoothest shots in NBA history. He shot the exact same way every time, and averaged 24.3 points per game throughout his career.
Where Bird would outwork LeBron is on the boards. Bird averaged ten rebounds per game and added 6.3 assists per game.
James could still drive the basket, but he'd better be ready to get bull rushed back.
PF: Karl Malone v. Dirk Nowitzki
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Another matchup we were lucky enough to see was that of Karl Malone and Dirk Nowitzki.
While both were playing well, neither was in their prime. It’s the same way Jordan and Bryant were.
With Karl Malone being second all time in points, with 36,928, and 12th all time with 25 points per game, he was my clear choice for power forward for Team Old School.
Malone’s dominance doesn’t stop at the offensive end; he has 14,968 rebounds, which ranks him seventh in NBA history, and averaged 10.1 rebounds per game.
While I discovered that finding a player in today’s NBA that could stop Malone was not feasible, I decided to find a player who could score on him and take advantage of his lack of speed.
While Malone wasn’t slow, he was still a big man, and a player like Dirk Nowitzki could outrun Malone any day.
Nowitzki could also take advantage of Malone’s average outside defense game.
As seen in the picture, Malone wasn’t the best outside defender, and Nowitzki would live on the free throw line against him.
Averaging 22.9 points per game throughout his career, Nowitzki against Malone would be an amazing matchup.
C: Wilt Chamberlain v. Dwight Howard
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Let me preface this by saying there is no one in the history of the NBA who could defend what Wilt Chamberlain did. I know that.
In the spirit of this list, though, Dwight Howard would give him a test
Howard is a huge presence at almost seven feet tall, and physically unbelievable. He is one of the most athletic seven footers in NBA history.
Through his seven years in the NBA, Howard has averaged 18.1 points and 12.8 rebounds per game—and has been the best center in the game since he came into the NBA in 2004.
Unfortunately for Howard and Team New School, Team Old School counters at center with Wilt Chamberlain.
Chamberlain’s career totals are devastating—with 31,419 points and 23924 rebounds—ranking him fourth and first in NBA history, accordingly.
If that doesn’t wow you for a 7’1” center, maybe his career, per game stats might; 30.1 points (second in NBA history), 22.9 rebounds (first in NBA history), and 4.4 assists per game throughout his career.
Winner: Team Old School
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Of course!
Although it would be a pretty solid game, the experience and talent of Team Old School would dominate and frustrate Team New School.
While each player is well suited to score and defend at their positions, I was also selecting from the greatest of all time.
Generations were different, and the competition back in the day wasn’t what it is now. I’ve heard all the chatter.
The game of basketball may have changed, but great players would be great players in any generation.
Kobe in the 1960s or Wilt in the 1990s would still see both dominating at their positions.
Whether you agree or disagree, the idea is just fun to think about.
Thanks for reading!
| Position | Team Old School | Team New School | Advantage |
| PG | Magic Johnson | Derrick Rose | Team Old School |
| SG | Michael Jordan | Kobe Bryant | Team Old School |
| SF | Larry Bird | LeBron James | Team New School |
| PF | Karl Malone | Dirk Nowitzki | Team New School |
| C | Wilt Chamberlain | Dwight Howard | Team Old School |
