One-on-one matches are an aspect of the basketball game, and it is difficult for us to see it among superstars. If there is a one-on-one duel, it is only a few rounds, and it almost always creates memorable moments. After all, basketball is a team sport in which 5 people compete with 5 other people at the same time. Wouldn't it be unbelievable if we could create a tournament where all the best players played one-on-one matches?

With such emphasis on teamwork and every player sharing the ball, one-on-one matches have become less and less common. Fortunately, we have our imagination. What if we let some of the greatest players in history participate in one-on-one matches and see the results? Can we predict the winner in a particular game? Of course, we would love to see that many players who played one-on-one matches have retired and no longer play professional basketball.

Here are the 10 greatest one-on-one matches we hope to see, combining a pair of opponents with elite skill levels and competitiveness. Obviously, most of these players have already retired, but imagine that they will compete against each other at their peak will be the best performance in sports history. Without further ado, here are the 10 greatest matchups we would like to see but never have the opportunity to witness with our own eyes.

This pair of opponents should come together and play one-on-one matches, because they are arguably the greatest ball handlers in NBA history. Allen Iverson is a member of the Hall of Fame. He has won the MVP, 4 scoring champions and 11 All-Star selections on a personal level. As a scorer, Iverson is widely regarded as one of the top five geniuses of all time because he has everything a scorer needs, from skill to determination. The guard is only 6 feet 0 inches, but still managed to destroy the opponent with his handle and shooting ability.

At the same time, Kyrie Irving is likely to be considered the best ball handler of all time. When he dribbles, his ball can spin and has enough explosive power to reach his position to pull up his patented jumper. Carey has never won a scoring leader, but he is a better shooter than Iverson (39.1% vs. 31.3%), and is slightly larger at 6'2”. Carey is tall and He has an advantage in shooting, but can he beat the answer in a one-on-one game? The answer is no. Iverson is a better defender and is more determined to score than anyone in his position (considering As far as he is a point guard). In this way, Irving will not be able to compete with the four-time scoring champion.

How will the game be played? Iverson will use his speed against Kyrie, and he is a better mid-range shooter, which means he can shoot almost anytime, anywhere. On the other hand, when Iverson relaxes slightly, Carey will have no problem completing some incredible acrobatic layups and possible three-pointers. The game will start relatively before Iverson finds his own rhythm from the middle distance and gains a five-point lead.

A three-pointer and a controversial back throw kept Kyrie within Iverson's strike range, but he could not stop The Answer from using his patented cross to kill the game, which resulted in a vigorous game. In the end, even though we were talking about acting rather than practice, Iverson defeated Carey 21-19.

Result: Alan Iverson 21-19 Kyrie Irving

Next, two of the three greatest small forwards will play. Kevin Durant is 4 times scoring champion, former MVP and 2 times NBA champion, and his career will eventually enter the Hall of Fame. There is nothing Durant can't do, from a layup jumper to a layup without hesitation. Frankly speaking, if Durant were eager to score like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, he could have become the greatest all-around scorer of all time. But he is a selfless player and prefers team basketball.

At the same time, Larry Bird is a super competitor. He never backs down to any opponents, so he is widely regarded as the top ten player of all time. Bird is an excellent shooter (37.6% from three-pointers and 88.6% from free throws), and he has an unstoppable backward movement that he can pull at any time. In terms of versatility, Bird's rebounder and passer are better than Durant, and he has won more honors. But this is a one-on-one technical contest. Perhaps there are only a handful of players in NBA history who have a real chance to defeat Kevin Durant.

Bird started with a hot start, scoring two consecutive three-pointers, and made it clear that he was confident from the start. Durant struggled to find his own rhythm, and Bird started 6-0. There was some rubbish along the way, once KD heard the sound of tearing the net, the game would start to become very interesting. Durant warmed up and made the next 5 shots, including a three-pointer and a spin that caused a dunk.

Bird didn't back down. He used his patented fall-back jumper to hit Durant, who was nearly 7 feet tall, with his high arc shot. Larry was a few inches away from winning the game. He took a 20-18 lead. Then Durant hit a controversial three-pointer and a mid-range shot that surprised everyone and turned it back. The victory surprised everyone. The game ended 22-20, Bird smirked, realizing that he was still a few inches away from defeating the most unstoppable scoring forward in the game's history.

Result: Kevin Durant 22-20 Larry Bird

We all know the greatness of Kobe Bryant because he can easily become the top two shooting guard of all time and the top ten player of all time. What Kobe brings to the game is unparalleled competitiveness, desire to be the best and countless critical moments. This is why Kobe retired a five-time championship, two-time scoring champion, and 18 all-stars. In terms of scoring, he is clearly one of the greatest players of all time, and many people claim that he is the king of one-on-one matches of his era.

Tracy McGrady was very close to Kobe Bryant at his peak. He was a 6'8" shooter with unrestricted range and movement. T-Mac was terrible to confront. , Because he can turn it on against anyone and can literally improve to shoot any defender. If it weren’t for Kobe’s presence and unfortunate injuries, McGrady would be the greatest shooting guard after Michael Jordan. But. In a one-on-one situation, it is impossible to bet against someone who has lost 81 points in a single game.

Kobe and Tracy McGrady are very close in offensive skills, but Kobe has a killer instinct that cannot be ignored. Although McGrady is an excellent offensive player, he has never destroyed the opponent's mentality like Kobe, and this will be reflected in this legendary matchup. McGrady and Kobe started trading, and the game was tied 8-8. But Kobe felt that he had had enough, locking in Tracy McGrady for multiple offenses before taking a 15-8 lead with 7 consecutive points.

Unsurprisingly, McGrady fought back, but could not prevent Kobe from winning the game. It took Kobe a few attempts to get out of the predicament, because before Kobe finally used a fake move to get McGrady to score at the basket, the 20-12 lead eventually became 20-18.

Result: Kobe Bryant 21-18 Tracy McGrady

When we think of one-on-one matchups, we often think directly of shooting guards and forwards, who have gorgeous touch and shooting ability. But true hardcore NBA fans want to see big men handle their business in a low-key manner, just like Hakim Olajuwon and Tim Duncan have done in their careers. Hakim is 2 times NBA champion, 2 times Finals MVP and 2 times Defensive Player of the Year. He is one of the 5 greatest centers of all time. His "Dream Shake" move destroyed his opponent because his footwork and IQ were impeccable and unbelievable.

At the same time, Duncan is the king of rebounds and has a reliable low post. Mainly considered to be a team player and defensive backbone, Duncan can easily score, which is why he averaged more than 20 points per game 9 times in his career. But he didn't score better than Hakim, who averaged 20 points 13 times in his career. Olajuwon is a better scorer and two-time defensive player of the year, so Duncan will almost never lose this classic game in history.

But how is this fairytale game going? Hakeem had a hot start, shooting 3 consecutive shots from 16 feet away and found his range. Duncan responded with rebound jump shots, low hooks and fake moves to make an easy layup. Fast forward to the 18-18 game, Hakim was knocked down by Duncan's fake action, but recovered enough to knock off an open layup.

This changed the momentum because "Dream" nailed his Dream Shake in multiple rounds to prevent the greatest power forward from living. Olajuwon is almost unstoppable when facing any opponent, and Duncan can't stop the legendary figure in the block. Duncan proved his worth, but he doesn't have the offensive moves that Hakim can complete.

Result: Hakeem Olajuwon vs. Tim Duncan 21-18

There is no doubt that Stephen Curry has a better career as a point guard, winning 3 NBA championships and 2 MVP awards, and is recognized as the greatest shooter of all time. Curry has completely changed the NBA game, because he has the ability to get high-quality three-pointers and easily consume them, which is simply amazing. Curry is also the two-time scoring leader, and the offense at the basket is not slack.

But in the one-on-one situation without teamwork, Iverson is simply unique. The Answer has received a lot of criticism for being a "selfish" player and trying to win the game on his own. This does not help the team's success, but it certainly helps in one-on-one matches. Iverson is faster than Stephen and more determined to score at the rim, and can dominate even if his outside shots have not fallen. Once again, this is close, but as long as Curry misses outside shots, Iverson can use it.

Curry has an advantage in outside shooting, which will be the key to his early advantage. Due to outside shots, Stephen led an amazing 7-2, but Iverson understood that he had to turn to the offense to continue to get the ball back. The Answer responded with his own three-pointer, then quickly surpassed Curry to tie the score to 8 points. With Curry's cold win streak, Iverson began to gain momentum.

Iverson began to find his own rhythm by dribbling, in some cases breaking Curry's ankle and quickly losing him. Iverson was close to victory with a 19-14 lead, but Curry made several consecutive three-pointers to lead 20-19. After Curry missed a layup, Iverson realized that he had to end the game before his opponent had a chance to shoot. The answer did not return the ball and ended the game with a controversial jumper 22-20.

Result: Iverson 22-20 Stephen Curry

This is a duel of two legends from the 1980s: Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Bird's career averages are 24.3 points, 37.6% from three-pointers, and 88.6% from free throws. At the same time, the Magic averaged 19.5 points, 30.3% from three-pointers, and 84.8% from free throws. Of course, both players played in an era when outside shooting was discouraged and never made it a priority.

Magic is underestimated in a one-on-one situation because he passes the ball very well and is undoubtedly the greatest team player of all time. But he has enough physique for low post, defense, and hook shots at the basket. But he can't beat Bird one-on-one, because the Celtics legend is a better shooter, he can use trash talking to win.

The game is good for Bird, and it is good for Bird. Larry found the rhythm from the beginning, scoring 5 consecutive goals, and using trash to get out of Magic. But know Johnson, he will use it as fuel. Magic used his strong physical fitness to hook shots, three-pointers, and trash talking to Bird.

The game gradually heated up, but Larry's offensive talent was incredible. He used various jump shots, retreat shots and three-pointers to get the Magic out of trouble, and finally ended the game with a three-point victory. Bird and Magic are the two greatest players in NBA history, but their different styles of play make this game an interesting matchup, even though Bird has the advantage.

Result: Larry Bird 21-18 Magic Jonson

If they compete in a one-on-one situation, a real battle of giants, Shaq and Wilt will make all the headlines. O'Neal is a talented center because he can actually control the ball, pass the ball, and explode at the basket. Shaq has never shown all his talents, because he is very good at using his huge size to punish defense.

Likewise, Wilt Chamberlain was the most physical advantage player of his era and used it to his advantage. Getting 100 points in a single game is not an easy task, even if Wilt makes it look normal. With a soft basket touch and unparalleled athleticism, Chamberlain easily ranks among the top ten in history. It would be unbelievable to see the two most physically dominant centers ever play, but there is only one winner.

This battle of giants will be very difficult and will last until after 21 games. Shaq and Wilt like to hit the ball in the low post, although the former prefers the body part of basketball. O'Neal struggled in his first few offenses and failed to surpass Wilt's incredible height and athleticism. Chamberlain made a dribble and hook shot to lead 10-2. But O'Neal slowed down and used his power to equalize the score. The big men walked back and forth in a long game that lasted more than an hour, but O'Neal took advantage of Wilt's lack of attention and made a few more shots in the end.

Wilt and Shaq are the same height, but the latter weighs nearly 50 pounds. This person will be eliminated, but Shaq will slip in a victory because he has a complete set of offensive skills that he can use to defeat the 7-time scoring champion, although this will be the best so far. Close duel.

Result: Shaquille O'Neal 24-22 Wilt Chamberlain

The duel between LeBron James and Kevin Durant is always exciting because they are the two greatest small forwards since Larry Bird became the spokesperson of the league. LeBron James is a better all-around player and team player, using his organizational skills to determine the outcome of the game. James is also a better rebounder and the most athletic wing player of all time. But can he compete with Durant one-on-one?

Durant is the four-time scoring leader, has a strong shooting ability (38.4% from three-pointers, 88.2% from free throws), and a higher shooting percentage than the Kings. Although Durant is a better shooter and is slightly taller, he lacks the circumference of the body, and it is difficult for him to stop James from rushing to the basket. On the defensive side, they will all be proficient, although the original size of the Kings will cause many problems for Durant.

Durant and James fought head-on, until the score equalized to 15 points, Durant began to find his own rhythm. Kevin led 18-15 quickly and had a seemingly clear path to the rim. James completed an incredible pursuit block, knocking the rebound off the backboard before hitting a deep three-pointer. This game gave the Kings incredible confidence and maintained their lead.

James scored a layup and jumper to lead 20-18, but can't let Durant leave with a controversial layup. Durant's quick jumper bounced around the basket, and then bounced several times, apparently from the shooter's touch. Kevin then took the lead with a three-pointer, but missed the opportunity to send the King away. LeBron did not return the ball, he attacked the basket and finished the game on the weaker Durant to win a competitive game.

Result: LeBron James 23-21 Kevin Durant

At the shooting guard position, it would be unbelievable for Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to face off head-on. Obviously, they are the two greatest shooting guards of all time, having won a total of 12 points (Jordan 10 times). This duel will be the most competitive on this list, and it is also the one most fans want to see. Michael was the original dominant shooting guard. His scoring destroyed the defense and won the Defensive Player of the Year.

Kobe has scored 81 points in a single game and single-handedly surpassed an NBA team in three quarters. This feat may never happen again. In terms of muscle mass, Kobe is slightly smaller than Jordan and his hands are also smaller, which will give Jordan an advantage in one-on-one. Kobe is Jordan's disciple, almost the same player. But Jordan is the most talented player ever and the best player ever, so he will beat Kobe in an incredible game.

Possibly the most competitive matchup, Jordan and Kobe have almost the same approach to the game. Whenever MJ hits a jumper, Kobe will respond when he receives the ball. Similarly, Jordan always reacts when Kobe starts to heat up. The difference here is that the two players have different shooting types, because Kobe can't take advantage of the 21-20 lead, because Jordan's layup in Black Mamba is very difficult.

After blocking Kobe's shot, Jordan scored in the next 2 shots, but Kobe made 2 more shots. Kobe pumps fakes, but Jordan doesn't like it. With a chance to beat his idol and prove himself a better offensive player, Kobe made a controversial jumper by Jordan's side. The ball just out of bounds gave Michael a chance to separate Kobe with 2 consecutive jump shots and controversial layups to prove that he is the greatest one-on-one player of all time.

Result: Michael Jordan 25-23 Kobe Bryant

Who is the goat? Michael Jordan has the advantage in most debates, but until today, the onslaught of the younger generation of fans is witnessing the greatness of LeBron James. This game topped the list because it was extremely relevant to the never-ending GOAT debate. Compared with LeBron James (27.0 PPG, 1 scoring champion), Michael is clearly a better scorer, with 10 scoring champions and a higher professional PPG (30.1 PPG).

James can be said to be a better team player than Michael, and makes everyone around him better, both on and off the court. The Kings are the most comprehensive player ever, but can he beat Michael Jordan one-on-one? The answer must be no. Jordan is simply the greatest one-on-one player of all time. If he can beat Kobe in this regard, he can also win LeBron James. Jordan is the greatest personal genius of all time, and his dominance on both ends of the court may never be surpassed.

Whenever Michael has something to prove or someone wants to remain silent, he will show the elite level. Michael and LeBron exchanged jump shots to start the game, but James began to attack the basket, which caused some problems for the superstars of the Chicago Bulls. Incredibly, James leads 15-13. But LeBron made a serious mistake: fell in love with his jumper.

Michael saw this and took advantage of it when the Kings started to miss shots. Jordan continued to be in full swing, hitting a jumper and hitting the rim with athleticism and vertical shooting. Michael will not allow a bigger player to easily enter the basket and find a position where he can grab a rebound from a turnover and ensure his efficient shooting. Michael was on the verge of the basket, but LeBron missed a controversial layup, which Jordan ate before the end of the jumper after pinning his opponent.

Result: Michael Jordan 21-19 LeBron James