With Kobe Bryant set to eclipse Michael Jordan on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, it seems fitting that we present a little history lesson on all of the times these two individuals proverbially “shot a fair one.” As known by all, Bryant and Jordan are two of the most intense competitors the game has ever seen, and their sample size of matchups proves to be quite enticing.
While their on-court exploits are one thing, their on-court aesthetic may have been even better, as each player laced ups some of the most iconic silhouettes during their respective battles. With that in mind, we present Kobe vs. MJ Head-to-Head: What They Wore & Who Won. Flip through the pages below to get a detail account of the series between the two legends.
December 17, 1997: Los Angeles Lakers @ Chicago Bulls
Kicks: adidas KB8 (Bryant)/Air Jordan 13 (Jordan)
Points: 36 to 33 in favor of Jordan
Win: Bulls (Jordan)
Technically speaking, this December 1997 matchup wasn’t the first series between Michael and Kobe, but it did mark the first occasion in which both players filled the stat sheet and provided a memorable game. Second year player Kobe Bryant would score 33 points, dish out 2 assists and snag 3 rebounds in the adidas KB8 model. While Bryant’s numbers were stellar, MJ and the Bulls secured the win as His Airness, while rocking the Air Jordan 13s, hit 36 points, dished out 4 assists, and recorded 5 rebounds.
