NBA legend Tracy McGrady didn't hesitate when asked who'd have won 1v1 between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant

Fans of both players will often debate who would have won a hypothetical one-v-one game between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

The two former NBA icons are not only among the greatest basketball players of all time, they also both played the same position – shooting guard – were of similar size and operated on the court in a similar style.

Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest NBA player of all time, having won six championships, five Most Valuable Player awards, six Finals MVPs and a record 10 scoring titles during his illustrious career.

But Bryant isn't far off in the GOAT stakes, with five titles, one MVP and two Finals MVPs during a career spent entirely with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant (Getty)

And former Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic star Tracy McGrady – who played against both players during his time in the NBA – has an interesting take over which of the two megastars would come out on top if they went head to head during their primes.

"I'm going with Kob," McGrady said during an interview to promote his own one-against-one basketball tournament, One Basketball League. "I'm going with Kob because I think Kobe was the most skilled basketball player I've ever seen. I think he took what MJ was and enhanced that skill set."

But McGrady was quick to point out that, just because he believes Bryant would come out on top in a one-against-one contest, it does not necessarily mean the late Lakers legend was the greatest player of all time, elaborating on the differences between one-v-one games and full-court, five-against-five basketball.

“We talk about who is the GOAT of basketball," he said. "It's MJ, LeBron, and I always have to throw Kobe in there.

"But that is in a five-on-five setting. So if you say in today's game who is the best player in today's game, I don't know who you would say, but I bet he probably wouldn't be the best one on one player.

"I want to find out who's the best one-on-one player in the world.”