Legendary Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant wasn’t ranked first on Jalen Rose’s list of the top 5 players to guard. Rose’s list featured a number of excellent players from his generation, but given his 81-point outburst against Rose, Kobe appeared to be a lock for the top slot.
Kobe was ranked second by Rose, and Michael Jordan was ranked first. His whole list appeared as follows:
Glenn Robinson 5.
Grant Hill 4.
Tracy McGrady 3.
Kobe Bryant 2.
Michael Jordan 1.
It is challenging to argue against MJ at number one. Rose has always had nothing but positive things to say about Jordan.
Most people agree that Michael Jordan is the best basketball player to ever play the game. Jordan is, at worst, ranked second all-time by Lebron James supporters. But in his 81-point performance, Kobe Bryant totally destroyed Jalen Rose. Kobe’s mind-blowing performance includes a 55-point performance just in the second half.
In the end, Jalen Rose handled it with class. Kobe and Roseonce collaborated on a commercial that made fun of Rose.
According to msn.com, Rose actually had the idea for the Kobe Bryant martini advertisement.
For him and his wife, I believe it was a date night… A few martinis were on the table when I looked down. I’ve never forgotten that vision, Rose said. I intended to take action on the 81 martinis.
In the end, there is little doubt that Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan were two of the hardest players to defend in history. They both had no fear and came up with absurd strategies to win.
Despite Jalen Rose ranking number one on Kobe Bryant’s list of the five NBA players he has defended despite scoring 81 points on him, ClutchPoints initially published the post.
