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Lakers Nation > Blog > Featured > Lakers News: Lamar Odom Recalls Kobe Bryant Proclaiming Superiority Over Michael Jordan
FeaturedLakers News

Lakers News: Lamar Odom Recalls Kobe Bryant Proclaiming Superiority Over Michael Jordan

Corey Hansford
Published: 03/10/2024
3 Min Read
Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Lakers
Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
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During the recent Kobe Bryant statue unveiling, former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson recalled setting up a meeting between a young Bryant and Michael Jordan. Jackson recalled that upon sitting down the first thing Kobe said to Jordan was that he could beat him 1-on-1.

Surpassing Jordan was always the goal for Kobe and the Lakers legend spent his entire career trying to accomplish that. If he didn’t do it he came awfully close, but one of Bryant’s closest teammates revealed that at one point, Kobe proclaimed he was flat out better.

In the latest episode of the LADE Podcast, Lamar Odom spoke about this moment that occurred during the 2009-10 season. Odom says that after another one of Bryant’s amazing game-winning shots, he entered the bus and said that he was better than Jordan:

“I’m gonna keep it real with you. We were on the bus one night, I think this was after he hit his ninth game-winner, against Milwaukee. [Kobe] came on the bus and in front of me and Phil, he was just like ‘Yo, I’m better than Mike.’ I said ‘What?!’ He said ‘Yo, I’m better than Mike.’ I was like ‘Bean, you’re going a long way with that.’ I was like ‘What, you’re better than Mike? That’s how you’re feeling?’ If he really said that, you know he felt it. He hit nine walk-offs that season. Nine walk-offs, ’Three, two, one…’ He hit nine in one season.”

Odom had his numbers just slightly off as it was seven game-winners that Kobe hit during that season, but that is still an unbelievable number for one year. More important was Bryant’s full-on confidence in that moment as he was arguably at the peak of his powers, not only dominating individually, but also leading the Lakers to back-to-back NBA Championships.

Saying that in front of Jackson was surely done on purpose as Phil is likely the only person who could truly judge the greatness between the two. But as Odom said, if Kobe said it, he definitely meant it.

There are only a handful of players who could even approach Jordan’s level of greatness, but without a doubt the Lakers icon is one of them.

Lakers making three status for Kobe Bryant

The Lakers recently unveiled the long-awaited statue for Kobe Bryant outside of Crypto.com Arena, although there were some more news that came with it. During the ceremony, Vanessa Bryant announced that there will be three statues dedicated to Kobe at the arena with two more to come.

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TAGGED:Kobe BryantLamar OdomLos Angeles LakersMichael Jordan
ByCorey Hansford
Corey Hansford is the Senior Editor for Lakers Nation, as well as a contributor for Dodger Blue, Rams News Wire, and Raiders News Wire. He is a passionate follower of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chelsea FC, and the UFC. He can usually be seen arguing the merits of Kobe Bryant or cursing the decisions of Jerry Jones. He is also a former producer and associate producer for Sirius XM Sports Radio on both the Fantasy Sports Channel and College Sports Nation. Proud graduate of Long Beach Poly High School and The Real HU, Howard University, with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Follow him on all social media outlets at @TheeCoreyH.
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