Stephen A. Smith didn't hesitate when naming 'assassin' as Michael Jordan's 'biggest rival' for NBA GOAT

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith didn't hesitate when naming Michael Jordan's 'biggest rival' in NBA history.

Jordan is considered by many as the rightful holder of the title of greatest NBA player of all time.

He won six NBA Championships between 1991 and 1998, as well as being named the NBA Finals MVP on six occasions.

Jordan returned to the NBA in 1995 following his shock early retirement and rejuvenated a Chicago Bulls side that had struggled in his absence, further cementing his status as one of the greatest ever.

He also had a career-long partnership with Nike that has continued long into his retirement, with Jordan reportedly earning a yearly $350 million in royalties from his 'Air Jordan' shoe brand.

MJ's popularity transcends the NBA, which is another reason why he is unrivalled in the eyes of many.

Michael Jordan pictured playing for the Chicago Bulls in 1990 (Image: Getty)

But he does have competition across different eras of basketball, with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal among those mentioned in the GOAT debate.

And Stephen A didn't hesitate in naming one of those players as Jordan's 'biggest rival' in the NBA - though he was comparing their skills and traits on the court rather than pitting them up against each other.

In an appearance on ESPN's 'First Take' show in 2020, Smith said: "To me, from a historical perspective, the name that comes to mind is Kobe Bryant.

"For me, when I think about a rival to MJ, it's somebody who has trying to be everything MJ was, and then some. He was trying to capture those numbers of titles doing it the way Jordan did it, from a stylistic perspective. In terms of being in the same position and trying to do the kind of things he's done.

"Kobe Bryant was an assassin. Kobe Bryant went about the business of shooting more than 20 times a game in 13, 14 seasons before he got hurt with that Achilles tear towards the end of his career.

"This dude would launch, and launch, and launch. One season, when Kobe was averaging 35, he'd launch 27 shots a game that season.

"He was clearly an assassin. He wasn't trying to be anything else.

"Really, he was about annihilating, assassinating and demoralising you. And that was MJ to a tee. He was trying to take your heart out by any means necessary, whatever it took.

"And usually in his mind - like it was in Kobe's mind - it was to score the basketball. And then go about the business of shutting you down.

"When I think about MJ and somebody playing like him, trying to be him, trying to do the things he did, ultimately the name that comes to my mind above anybody else is Kobe Bryant."