Phil Jackson is a coaching legend. He is arguably the greatest head coach in NBA history. Jackson has won eleven titles as a coach and also had the privilege of training both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in his career. 

Jackson accomplished the three-peat twice with the Chicago Bulls, and once with the Los Angeles Lakers. In an interview, Jackson faced the task of picking the better one among the two greats he had coached.

Jackson picks between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant

Back in 2014, Jackson took part in a 1v1 rapid fire pick between two players. The hosts asked him to choose between the two players from the past and the present.

After casually breezing past two or three rounds, Jackson came up against a tough one. Michael Jordan vs Kobe Bryant. Two players he had coached. Two players who won titles for him. 

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When the host asked the winner, “It’s gonna be MJ. He’s got that hand,” replied Jackson.

He further explained how Michael Jordan made the one hand dribble look easy with his extraordinary skills. “He’s got that glove. When a guy can pick up the ball with one hand when he’s dribbling like Michael could do that and take the ball to the basket, it is a very difficult thing to do,” Jackson stated.

When Jackson asked Michael to advise Kobe

Phil Jackson shared an interesting anecdote from the 1999-00 season when he was the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Jordan’s retirement came a year ago, and he was attending one of the Lakers’ games. Jackson recalled how he asked Michael Jordan to give a few tips to Kobe after the game. 

“I want you to talk to Kobe a little bit. He tends to take over the game at a certain time and I think if you convince him to wait, just be patient allow the game to come to him when it is necessary for him to do something.”

Jackson took Jordan into the chairman’s room and waited for Kobe to walk in. He came in, looked at Jordan said, “I could kick your ass.”

To his surprise, Jordan replied, “You might.” Jordan told Kobe that he had been watching his games for a couple of years now and he really thought he might beat him in a 1v1.