This is why as someone who thinks MJ is the GOAT, I have absolutely no issue with ppl saying Kobe is the GOAT.
Kobe wanted all the smoke, whether it be a regular game, scrimmage, playoffs, etc.
The 1st time he faced off vs MJ was all I needed to see. I knew right then that Kobe was that dude. He said he wanted MJ to show him that he was what everybody said he was. No duckin', no deferrin', no takin' the weaker offensive player, no switchin', etc.
Bron is a bad dude too, but I was disappointed with that shît he said about playin' 1 on 1. If you really like that and someone says "let's play one on one", you supposed to be ready to lace em up and go at it, not say "this ain't Jordan vs Bird"