Kobe Bryant never defeated a team with Kawhi Leonard on the court but dominated opponents like Jermaine O'Neal and Jason Kidd.
Credit: Fadeaway World
Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant. The similarities between these 3 all-time greats are staggering. On a global scale, no NBA players in history have surpassed these 3 as far as superstardom goes. Kobe Bryant is, without a doubt, a superstar and one of the greatest players in NBA history. It seems the narrative around Bryant’s career has shifted since his tragic passing in 2020, and it is both wrong and uncalled for. There is a reason an entire generation of current NBA stars view him as one of the GOATs of the sport, and today, we reveal just part of the equation.
During his career, Kobe Bryant engaged in heated rivalries against other superstars across the NBA. That is what happens when you are an icon like Bryant, you get every opponent’s best effort because of who they see across from them on the court. Bryant went toe-to-toe with some of the game’s biggest names, and like most NBA greats, he won some, and he lost some. Today, we will cover his overall records against some of his biggest rivals and some current stars he faced off against a few times as well. We will break down each star’s performances in those games and why their overall records against each other look the way they do.
Here are Kobe Bryant’s individual records against NBA superstars and legends of the past and present.
Kawhi Leonard - 7 Games, 0-7 (0.0%)
Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 17.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.9 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 0-7
Playoffs: None
A serious head-to-head matchup between Kobe Bryant and Kawhi Leonard would have been some NBA fans would have loved to see in their primes. Not only did we not get that, but all we really did get was 7 games in the regular season when Kawhi was young, and Bryant was beginning to decline. Leonard being one of the better perimeter defenders ever, got the best of Bryant all 7 times they faced off in from 2012 forward. In those 7 games, Leonard averaged 13.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 1.9 SPG.
Bryant was 3 years removed from his fifth NBA championship when he first met Leonard in an NBA competition. Bryant performed generally great in his first 3 losses against Kawhi with 18, 28, and 27 points, respectively. He then struggled mightily for the next 3 games with 2 single-digit scoring performances. In his final contest against Leonard, Bryant poured in 25 points but, of course, lost the game. In these 7 games against Kawhi and the Spurs, Kobe shot just 39.0% from the field as well.
LeBron James - 22 Games, 6-16 (27.3%)
Credit: Joe Robbins-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 24.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 6-16
Playoffs: None
The one matchup we nearly had in 2009 was between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals. That was the closest fans got to see James and Bryant going against each other in the NBA playoffs. James and Bryant did meet 22 times during their career in the regular season, with James claiming 16 wins over Kobe and the Lakers. James claimed these 16 wins from 2005 through 2016 after starting 0-2 against Kobe. In these games, James brought his best as he averaged 28.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.3 APG, and 1.9 SPG.
Bryant was no slouch in most of these contests, either. Bryant averaged 24.6 PPG and 5.2 APG in these matchups and had his best performance against James in a 2009 loss with 35 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. Meanwhile, James had a 41-point game in 2008 in a win over Kobe. This is impressive for James as he was still winning regularly against Bryant as Bryant was winning back-to-back NBA championships in 2009 and 2010.
Kyrie Irving - 6 Games, 2-4 (33.3%)
Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 28.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 2-4
Playoffs: None
Any casual NBA fan can tell you how much the relationship meant between Kobe Bryant and Kyrie Irving. Kobe served as a mentor of sorts to Kyrie both on and off the court, as we have seen Kyrie remember vividly and fondly. On the court, these 2 stars were only allowed to meet a total of 6 times from 2012 through 2016 when Irving was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Irving got the best of Bryant 4 out of 6 times they met and averaged 24.5 PPG, 6.8 APG, and 1.7 SPG. His best game came in 2016 when he scored 35 points against Kobe’s Lakers and came out with a win.
Kobe made his mark on the relationship in the first 2 times these 2 squared off against each other. In his first game against Irving, Kobe dropped a 42-point masterpiece in a victory over the Cavs. He would do it again the next time they met, but Irving left with the win and the last laugh. In their final meeting in 2016, Bryant and Irving each scored 26 points, but again, the Cavs walked away with the win.
Shaquille O’Neal - 11 Games, 4-7 (36.4%)
Credit: Fadeaway World
Regular Season: 35.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 4-7
Playoffs: None
During their time together with the Lakers, Kobe Bryant and Shaq became one of the best duos in NBA history. They won 3 NBA championships together, and both rose to superstardom on a meteoric rise. Somewhere along the way, the relationship soured, and the two had a very public and very real beef between them. Shaq asked away from Los Angeles, and from that point on, whenever these 2 met, you knew they were going to bring their absolute best on the court. Shaq won the first 3 games in Miami against the Lakers, with pretty good games each time. Overall he averaged 16.7 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and 1.4 BPG against Kobe in his career.
Kobe had monster games against Shaq in their careers. In their first meeting, Kobe had 42 points in the loss. Kobe got his first win in 2006 when he went for 37 points and won again the next time they met in 2008 with 41 points. Bryant’s career-high against Shaq is 49 in a loss to the Suns in 2009. In their final matchup, Shaq was 38 with the Celtics and played just 12 minutes, with Bryant going for 41 points in a loss.
Manu Ginobili - 53 Games, 21-32 (39.6%)
Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 24.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 11-25
Playoffs: 29.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 10-7
For years we watched Manu Ginobili, and Kobe Bryant face off in heated battles between the Spurs and Lakers both in the playoffs and regular season. The Spurs dominated the regular season matchups, going 25-11 in those games, with Ginobili seeing 17 starts and averaging 14.9 PPG, 4.3 APG, and 1.7 SPG. It was a different story in the playoffs. Ginobili started just 1 playoff game out of 17 and averaged 13.0 PPG mostly off the bench in 2003, 2004, and 2008 playoffs that saw Bryant’s Lakers victorious more often than not.
Kobe Bryant hit a different gear when the NBA playoffs came around. Bryant’s 10-7 record against Ginobili in the playoffs is just another indication of the hold he had over even the best teams during his prime. Bryant and the Lakers dismissed the Spurs in 8 games during the 2008 playoffs with 39 points from Kobe to close out the series. After losing the first 2 games of the 2004 playoff series between them, Bryant had a 42-point game to get the Lakers on the board and 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists in Game 6 to close it out.
Karl Malone - 34 Games, 14-20 (41.2%)
Credit: Fadeaway World
Regular Season: 22.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 13-12
Playoffs: 9.3 PPG,1.6 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 1-8
Karl Malone was still in his prime when Kobe Bryant broke into the NBA as a young man in 1996. Malone and the Jazz were about to find themselves in the NBA Finals 2 seasons in a row, while Bryant and the Lakers were still a few seasons away from being the dominant NBA champion they would become in 2000. Malone retired in 2004 after being teammates with Bryant on the Lakers for the 2003-04 season. The regular season is not where Malone and the Jazz held their dominance over Bryant and the Lakers.
On both runs to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, Bryant’s Lakers were one of the teams that Utah went through to reach the Finals. Malone and the Jazz destroyed the Lakers in both series, winning in 5 games in 1997 and in a 4-game sweep in 1998. Bryant was barely a part of the Lakers rotation at this time, seeing just 20.0 minutes per game on the court during their matchups on average. Malone averaged 29.2 PPG and 11.6 RPG against the Lakers in the playoffs fueling the 2 overwhelming victories.
Damian Lillard - 7 Games, 3-4 (42.9%)
Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 27.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 3-4
Playoffs: None
Over the past 12 years, we have watched Damian Lillard become an all-time clutch performer and one of the better shooters in NBA history. The fact that we never got to see Lillard and Kobe face off in a bucket-for-bucket class is borderline a crime, and the fact we didn't see them in their prime is a travesty. Even as a young man against Bryant, Lillard was on top of his game, getting the better of the Lakers 4 out of 7 times in their matchups. Lillard averaged 26.6 PPG, 8.0 APG, and 1.1 SPG in these 7 matchups.
Against Damian Lillard, Bryant put up some memorable performances as well. In a 2013 win over Portland, Kobe put up 40 points and 7 rebounds on 65.2% shooting from the field. In another 2013 victory, Bryant put up 47 points and 8 rebounds on 52.0% shooting in a victory. Overall, Bryant played spectacularly against Lillard and the Trail Blazers and often pointed out the greatness and potential he saw in Lillard.
Dwyane Wade - 20 Games, 9-11 (45.0%)
Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 26.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 9-11
Playoffs: None
When we speak about Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant, we are speaking about 2 of the Top 3 players to play the shooting guard position ever. Wade and Bryant battled 20 times during their NBA careers from 2003 through 2016. Wade stepped up when it mattered most against Bryant and the Lakers and finished with a record 2 games over .500 against them. He averaged 24.3 PPG, 6.5 APG, 1.9 SPG, and 1.1 BPG, matched up against Bryant in those 20 games, and always gave Kobe a tough time on defense, especially.
Bryant’s best performance came against Wade in a 2004 loss to the Heat. Bryant scored 42 points 0n 12-30 shooting in that game, while Wade had 29 points and 10 assists in the victory. As Bryant was still ascending as a superstar, Wade didn’t back down from the challenge whenever they met on the floor. Kobe’s game was too much for Wade at times, and at other times, Wade looked like he had the potential to pass Kobe.
Russell Westbrook - 33 Games, 15-18 (45.5%)
Credit: Isaiah J.Downing=USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 23.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 10-12
Playoffs: 27.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 5-6
Russell Westbrook is known as one of the better point guards in NBA history. He is the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles and a former MVP with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Westbrook and Bryant faced off on the NBA court a total of 33 times in their career, with Westbrook holding a slight edge over Bryant. In 22 regular season games, Westbrook and the Thunder came out on top 12 times, with Russ averaging 22.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 8.2 APG.
Things were slightly different in the NBA playoffs. Westbrook and Bryant met in 2010 in a 6-game series that saw the Lakers take down Oklahoma City en route to an NBA championship. Kobe scored 32 points and grabbed 7 rebounds to close out the series in Game 6. They would meet again in 2012, with Westbrook and the Thunder emerging victorious this time en route to a berth in the NBA Finals. Westbrook scored 37 points in Game 4 and 28 points in Game 5 to secure the win and series for Oklahoma City.
Chauncey Billups - 45 Games, 21-24 (46.7%)
Credit: Fadeaway World
Regular Season: 25.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 16-18
Playoffs: 28.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 5-6
In many ways, Chauncey Billups and the Detroit Pistons were the Kryptonite for Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Billups and the Pistons took over in the early 2000s as one of the most fundamentally sound and gritty defensive teams in basketball. Billups met Bryant 34 times in the regular season with the Pistons and Nuggets and secured an 18-16 record against him. He averaged 16.6 PPG, 5.2 APG, and 1.1 SPG in those 34 games.
The biggest matchup between these 2 stars came in the 2004 NBA Finals between the Lakers and Pistons. Billups would be the best player on the floor as he and the Pistons knocked off the Lakers in 5 games to derail hopes of a 4th title for Shaq and Kobe as Lakers. Billups also met Bryant as a member of the Denver Nuggets in the 2009 playoffs. This time, Bryant and the Lakers would come out on top in 5 games en route to an NBA championship. Bryant closed out the series with 35 points and 10 assists in Game 5.
Tim Duncan - 82 Games, 39-43 (47.6%)
Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 23.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 21-31
Playoffs: 28.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 18-12
The debate between Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan is one that will probably live on forever. Duncan and Kobe went back and forth for the title of the best player in their era, with numerous battles between the Spurs and Lakers. The regular season matchups were never really all that close in favor of the Spurs, who won 31 of 52 matchups. Duncan averaged 18.5 PPG, 11.4 RPG, and 1.8 BPG in those 52 games.
Once again, Kobe Bryant took his game to another level in the playoffs. Bryant and Duncan met in 5 different playoff series, with the Lakers winning 3 out of those 5 series. With an 18-12 record against the Spurs in the playoffs, I think it goes without saying that one player sits right above the other in terms of greatness. In those 18 playoff games, Bryant averaged over 28.0 PPG and was the driving force in victory more often than not.
Dwight Howard - 25 Games, 12-13 (48.0%)
Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 25.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 8-12
Playoffs: 32.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 4-1
It is no secret that Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard didn’t like each other very much when they played together in 2012-13. Howard was one of the best two-way bigs in basketball during the late 2000s and 2010s with 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards and a berth in the 2009 NBA Finals. Four of Howard’s 12 wins came as a member of the Rockets, where he went 4-0 against the Lakers, and 8 of them came with the Magic, where he was 8-8 against Bryant overall.
Once again, Kobe Bryant had the last laugh when it really mattered. We were able to watch these 2 stars face off in the 2009 NBA Finals, with Howard leading Orlando and Kobe leading Los Angeles. Bryant and the Lakers steamrolled the Magic in 5 games while Bryant put on a masterful performance to win Finals MVP. Howard held his own and should be praised for even getting his team that far but Bryant lived for the pressure and adrenaline of the NBA Finals.
Giannis Antetokounmpo - 2 Games, 1-1 (50.0%)
Credit: Jeff Hanisch/USA Today Sports
Regular Season: 18.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.0 BPG, 1-1
Playoffs: None
Now I know that this matchup is a little far-fetched and out there, considering these 2 superstars dominated different eras. Kobe was the best player in the world during the 2000s, while Giannis has taken that title so far in the 2020s. This matchup also serves as the line we will be crossing from here on out in matchups that Bryant has won more of than not. When these 2 players finally met on the court in 2015 and 2016, it was clear that the new era was among us and the career of a legend was nearing its end.
The first time these 2 played in 2015 was a win in favor of the Lakers. Bryant scored 22 points and dished out 6 assists in the win, as Giannis recorded 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. The result would be far different when they met again in 2016. This time, it was Giannis who looked far superior to Bryant. Giannis scored 27 points and added 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 blocks to get the win over Bryant. Kobe added just 15 points and 5 rebounds in the loss.
Paul Pierce - 39 Games, 20-19 (51.3%)
Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 25.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.3 SPG,0.4 BPG, 14-12
Playoffs: 27.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 4.4 APG, 2.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 6-7
The rivalry between the Celtics and Lakers is one that dates back to the 1960s and has continued to grow ever since. The rivalry had new life breathed into it in the late 2000s with the duels between Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant. Bryant owned the regular season advantage over Pierce with a 14-12 record in 26 games. The rivalry really reached its peak when they met in the 2008 and 2010 NBA Finals.
Pierce and the Celtics met Bryant and the Lakers for the first time on the big stage in 2008. The series would last just 6 games as Pierce won Finals MVP with 21.8 PPG and 6.3 APG in the series. Bryant struggled with 25.7 PPG on 40.5% shooting in the 6-game series. Bryant would have his revenge in 2010, though. Unwilling to concede his 5th NBA title, Bryant led the Lakers to victory in 7 games. He was crowned Finals MVP with 28.6 PPG and 8.0 RPG in the win.
Chris Paul - 38 Games, 20-18 (52.6%)
Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 28.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 16-16
Playoffs: 22.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 4-2
Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul crossed paths more than once during their NBA career. They engaged in Western Conference battles during Paul’s time in New Orleans, as well as the Battle of L.A. when Paul was with the Clippers. During the regular season, these two split the 32 games that were played against each other, with each player going 16-16 in the games. Paul averaged 20.5 PPG, 11.4 APG, and 2.3 SPG in those 32 games.
Considering how both of these players led their teams, it feels a little off that they only faced off in the playoffs one time. The series was the first round of the 2011 playoffs, in which the Lakers squared off with the Hornets. Paul and the Hornets would drop the series in 6 games after a 22.0 PPG, 11.5 APG, and 1.8 SPG output from Paul. Bryant didn’t have the best or worst series of his career but finished right down the middle with 22.5 PPG and 1.5 SPG to get the win.
Kevin Durant - 36 Games, 19-17 (52.8%)
Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 25.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 14-11
Playoffs: 27.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 5-6
Only getting 36 games between Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant just doesn’t feel right. Durant and Bryant are two of the most skilled offensive players to ever grace the NBA hardwood and 2 of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. Bryant holds a 14-11 advantage over him in the regular season, even though Durant outplayed Bryant individually. In those 25 games, Durant averaged 27.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.3 SPG, and 1.0 BPG.
We did, however, get to see 2 different playoff series between Kobe and Durant during their careers. On the 2010 NBA title run, Bryant and the Lakers dismissed Durant and the Thunder in 6 games. Bryant had a 39-point Game in Game 2 and 32 points and 7 rebounds to close the series in Game 6. When the two teams met again in 2012, it would be Durant and the Thunder who came out victorious. Durant had 31 points in Games 3 and 4 and shut the door in Game 5 with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Kobe had 42 in the loss.
Chris Webber - 40 Games, 23-17 (57.5%)
Credit: Fadeaway World
Regular Season: 26.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 12-12
Playoffs: 29.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 11-5
Between 1997 and 2007, Kobe Bryant and Chris Webber squared off 24 times on the court during the regular season. Each star would win 12 games apiece, with most of their battles coming between Webber’s Kings and Kobe’s Lakers. Webber was a tremendously gifted power forward who could do it all on the court, from scoring to passing to playing stifling interior defense. In the 24 games against Bryant in the regular season, Webber averaged 21.3 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 45. APG, and 1.7 SPG.
If you grew up as a basketball fan in the 2000s, one thing we always looked forward to was when the Lakers would play the Kings in the playoffs. These 2 teams hated each other with a burning passion and came to blows several times on the court. Bryant’s Lakers met Webber’s Kings in the playoffs 3 seasons in a row from 2000 through 2002, with Bryant’s Lakers winning all 3 times and winning NBA championships all 3 postseasons. Webber was one of the better players on the court, though, with 24.8 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.4 BPG.
Ray Allen - 50 Games, 29-21 (58.0%)
Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 24.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 23-14
Playoffs: 27.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 4.4 APG, 2.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 6-7
Whenever Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant went up against one another at any time during the season, fans knew they were in store for fireworks. During the 90s and 2000s, Allen was way more than just the 3-point sniper he is remembered as. Allen was athletic, fast, and could score from anywhere on the court during his absolute prime. In 37 regular season games, Allen averaged 19.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 4.5 APG against Bryant and lost 23 times.
The only time we got to see these two play when it really mattered was in the 2008 and 2010 NBA Finals. Bryant was the far superior player on the court in both series, but the teams split the Finals 1-1. In the 2008 Finals, Allen averaged 20.3 PPG and 5.0 RPG in the win. During the 2010 NBA Finals, Allen averaged just 14.6 PPG in the loss. Bryant would be named the Finals MVP of the 2010 Finals, and Allen would grab his 2nd title in 2013 with the Heat.
Kevin Garnett - 76 Games, 45-31 (59.2%)
Credit: Joe Robbins-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 23.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 31-20
Playoffs: 27.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 14-11
Whenever you hear Kevin Garnett speak about the late Kobe Bryant, it is hard not to get fired up. He speaks about his friend with such passion and respect that one must be fully invested in what he is saying. Bryant and Garnett met 76 times during their careers which is Bryant's 2nd-most matchup with a single player ever. Bryant was able to win 31 regular season contests and 14 playoff contests to take control of their head-to-head record.
In the playoffs, many fans remember the 2 Finals series between Garnett and Bryant when Garnett was with the Boston Celtics. These 2 players also met twice in 2003 and 2004 when Garnett was with the Timberwolves. In 2003, Bryant and the Lakers downed Garnett in 6 games, led by Kobe’s 31 points in Game 6 to close it out. They met again in 2004, with the Lakers winning once again in 6 games. Garnett played incredibly in the series, but it wasn’t enough to slow down Kobe, Shaq, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton.
Stephen Curry - 15 Games, 9-6 (60.0%)
Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 26.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 9-6
Playoffs: None
I don’t think you will hear any fan opposed to the fact that they wish Curry and Kobe got to meet just 1 time in the NBA playoffs. Instead, between 2009 and 2016, we got just 15 games of young Curry or older Kobe in the regular season. Kobe dominated the matchups early on when Curry was just getting into a rhythm as a player in the NBA. As time went on, Curry and the Warriors took hold of the series.
Bryant and Curry exchanged big games throughout their careers against each other. Bryant had 2 44-point games against Curry and the Warriors in his career, which ended up with each team winning a game. Curry had a 47-point performance in a loss during the 2013 season against the Lakers. Overall in his games against Kobe, Curry averaged 22.9 PPG, 7.3 APG, and 1.5 SPG on 38.4% shooting from three.
Hakeem Olajuwon - 15 Games, 9-6 (60.0%)
Credit: Fadeaway World
Regular Season: 20.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 6-5
Playoffs: 18.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 5.8 APG, 2.0 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 3-1
The careers of Hakeem Olajuwon and Kobe Bryant are another case of ones we wished crossed paths sooner. Much like Curry’s 15 matchups with Kobe, Hakeem was either too old, or Kobe was still just a pup when they faced off. All 15 of their games came between the Rockets and Lakers with 11 of them coming in the regular season between 1996 and 2000. Hakeem averaged 15.4 PPG, 8.0 RPG, and 1.8 BPG with a 5-6 overall record.
Another reason we wish we got to see these 2 play sooner would be their battles in the playoffs that could have possibly gone down. Instead, we got just a 4-game sample size of playoff basketball between the 2 in 1999. By this time, Hakeem was toward the end of his career and averaged just 13.3 PPG and 7.3 RPG in the series. Bryant was just coming into his own and would help lead the Lakers to an NBA championship after posting a ridiculous series against Houston. Bryant’s defense was unstoppable, with 2.0 SPG and 2.0 BPG, as he led the Lakers to a 3-1 series win.
Dirk Nowitzki - 53 Games, 32-21 (60.4%)
Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 25.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 32-17
Playoffs: 23.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 0-4
For the better part of 2 decades, Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki were Western Conference foes. They battled each other for MVP awards, conference supremacy, and chances at NBA championships. Kobe and Dirk had mutual respect for each other as well, which even included Bryant trying to lure Dirk away from the Mavericks. When it came to the regular season, Kobe and the Lakers dominated the Mavs with a 32-17 record behind outstanding play from Bryant.
Nowitzki is one of the few players on this list who never lost to Bryant in the playoffs. In 2011, the Lakers were coming off back-to-back NBA championships and were considered the favorite in their 2nd-round matchup against the Mavericks. Dallas and Dirk had other plans as Nowitzki led his team to a 4-game sweep of the defending champions. Dirk and the Mavs would go on to win the NBA championship over the Miami Heat that season, and Bryant never got as close to an NBA Finals again.
Carmelo Anthony - 39 Games, 24-15 (61.5%)
Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 26.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 16-13
Playoffs: 33.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 8-2
During the 2000s and 2010s, some of the best battles that we got to see on the court were between Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant. During his younger years with the Nuggets, Carmelo was a three-level scoring machine who battled intensely with Bryant every time they met. Overall in his career, Anthony averaged 23.5 PPG and 6.3 RPG vs. Bryant but lost 16 of 29 matchups.
Things were heavily tilted in Bryant’s direction during the playoffs. Bryant and Anthony met twice in the playoffs, both on runs that saw Kobe’s Lakers make the NBA Finals. In 2008, Bryant and the Lakers swept Denver behind a monster series from Bryant. In 2009, the year they won the NBA title, Bryant and Melo went back and forth for 6 games until the Lakers came out on top. Bryant had 40 points in Game 1, 41 points in Game 3, and 35 points in the close-out Game 6.
Michael Jordan - 8 Games, 5-3 (62.5%)
Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 22.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 5-3
Playoffs: None
When it comes to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, the comparisons are endless. From the way that Kobe emulated Jordan’s game to the way they were both obsessed with winning on an unhealthy level, the similarities between the two are uncanny. As far as their careers against each other on the court, the numbers are a bit flawed. We never got to see Bryant and Jordan square off peak-for-peak in any situation. Either Jordan was in his prime, and Kobe was a rookie waiting to break out or Jordan was old, and Bryant was just entering his prime.
Jordan and Bryant met 8 times total in their careers, all coming in the regular season. They met once in 1996 when Jordan went off for 30 points in a win, and Bryant played just 9 minutes. They played twice in 1997 with each of them trading wins and 30-point games. Bryant and the Lakers also beat Jordan once in 1998 with 31 points from Kobe and 31 from Jordan. Kobe was 3-1 in the next 4 games against Jordan, which included a 55-point game in their last meeting in 2003.
Allen Iverson - 38 Games, 24-14 (63.2%)
Credit RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 24.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 16-13
Playoffs: 28.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 8-1
Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant will always be linked to one another as members of the same draft class and adversaries on the court. Iverson was a prolific scorer in his day, winning multiple scoring titles and an MVP award in his prime. Iverson and Kobe went toe-to-toe 29 times during the regular season and Iverson always brought his best. Iverson averaged 25.3 PPG, 7.1 APG, and 2.2 SPG vs. Kobe in the regular season but lost 16 of the 29 matchups.
Things were always just as heated during the playoffs between these two but Kobe’s teams had a chokehold on Iverson’s. Kobe went 8-1 against Iverson in the playoffs which included a 5-game defeat in the 2001 NBA Finals. Iverson was able to do enough to steal one game from L.A. but Kobe and Shaq proved to be too much. They met once again in 2008 when Iverson was in Denver but once again, Kobe’s team prevailed in a 4-game sweep. Overall in the playoffs, Iverson averaged 30.7 PPG against Bryant.
Tracy McGrady - 21 Games, 14-7 (66.7%)
Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 26.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 14-7
Playoffs: None
Kobe Bryant was once heard saying that Tracy McGrady was the toughest defensive assignment of his career. He also said that about Durant and Iverson, but that’s beside the point. McGrady was a unicorn on the court who had size, speed, and agility in his favor. He was an athletic scoring machine with a propensity to hit daggers in the clutch and send opposing fans home miserable.
When looking at his numbers against Bryant, it is clear who got the best of who in these showdowns. Bryant and McGrady met 21 times during the regular season in their careers with Bryant winning 62.5% of the time. They both struggled early on but then traded big-time performance after big-time performance as time went on. In his 21 games against Bryant, McGrady averaged just 17.9 PPG on 39.2% shooting.
Jason Kidd - 54 Games, 36-18 (66.7%)
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season: 22,6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 28-13
Playoffs: 23.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 8-5
Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd were two of the premier players in their position during the 2000s. Kidd is one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game and revolutionized the position in his own way. Kidd was a rebounding machine for a guard in a big man’s game and one of the smartest floor generals ever. He and Kobe met on numerous occasions, including at Kidd’s peak in the 2002 NBA Finals.
Kidd had done a tremendous job of carrying the Nets to the Finals in 2002 and faced off against a Lakers team that was looking to 3-peat as champions. Bryant and the Lakers took care of business in 5 games with Shaq taking home his 3rd straight Finals MVP. The Lakers had also taken care of Kidd’s Suns in 2000 in 5 games before this. Kidd’s record against Bryant got immensely better in 2011 as a member of the Mavs. Behind a monster series from Dirk Nowitzki, Kidd and the Mavs swept Bryant’s Lakers out of the playoffs.
Scottie Pippen - 38 Games, 26-12, (68.4%)
Credit: Fadeaway World
Regular Season: 23.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 13-8
Playoffs: 21.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.9 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 13-4
Kobe Bryant and Scottie Pippen are examples of just missing out on facing off against each other at their best. Bryant broke into the NBA during the time that Pippen and Jordan were still helping the Bulls win championships. As Pippen’s body broke down as time went on, Bryant and the Lakers began to take control of the series, especially in the playoffs.
Bryant’s Lakers and the teams Pippen were a part of met every season in the playoffs from 1999 through 2002. Bryant and the Lakers won 13 out of 17 games, giving Pippen just 4 wins in 4 seasons over Kobe in the postseason. Pippen was no pushover with 15.9 PPG and 9.1 RPG but the two-way play of Bryant was too much for the Rockets and Trail Blazers. Bryant went through Pippen on his way to a three-peat of his own from 2000 through 2002.
Charles Barkley - 11 Games, 8-3 (72.7%)
Credit: Fadeaway World
Regular Season: 16.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 5-2
Playoffs: 18.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 5.8 APG, 2.0 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 3-1
Charles Barkley and Kobe Bryant are the last head-to-head comparison that we do between two players who did not meet in their primes. During the regular season, Barkley and Bryant met only 7 times from 1996 through 1998. Bryant’s teams were able to win 5 of those 7 contests but Barkley was the superior player between the two. He averaged 22.3 PPG, 13.6 RPG, and 3.3 APG in those games.
We were also able to get a brief glimpse at these 2 against each other in the playoffs. In 1999, Kobe and the Lakers met Barkley and Barkley and the Rockets in the postseason. The Lakers defeated the Rockets in 4 games with Kobe playing 37.2 minutes per game. Barkley outperformed Kobe in the series with 23.5 PPG and 13.8 RPG but the Lakers got the final say in the series win.
Jermaine O’Neal - 35 Games, 26-9 (74.3%)
Credit: Fadeaway World
Regular Season: 23.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 20-7
Playoffs: 15.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.0 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 6-2
Jermaine O’Neal is probably one of the most underrated players of all time. During the 2000s, O’Neal became one of the best two-way players in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers and quickly was forgotten, seemingly blackballed after his involvement with the Malice At The Palace brawl with the Pistons. O’Neal and Bryant met 27 times during the regular season in their career with Bryant taking home 20 wins over O’Neal.
These 2 met for 8 games during the NBA playoffs but under severely different circumstances. Jermaine O’Neal was stuck in Portland where they completely didn’t believe in his abilities and he barely saw the floor in the playoffs. Bryant was just starting to earn the trust of the Lakers staff, seeing more and more minutes as time progressed. In their 8 games in the playoffs, O’Neal saw an average of 3.7 minutes per night while Bryant played 31.4 minutes. The Lakers won 6 out of 8 games and the NBA title after the 2000 series between the Lakers and Trail Blazers.
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