The first-ever challenge, Dec. 1996: MJ schools Kobe with a devastatingly quick baseline move.
Next time they met, Kobe got a little ball — with some hand — and held his own.
Barely old enough to vote, Kobe was already effective at contesting a turnaround jumpshot.
Bryant's jumper, however, was also quite refined.
Kobe's own turnaround? Impressive, especially for a teenager.
But His Airness could still keep defenders on their heels with the slightest movement.
Jordan's stop-and-pop could not be defended — by Bryant or anyone else.
At the 1998 All-Star Game in New York, a 34-year-old Jordan dusted off his baseline turnaround.
When Bryant's ISO defense let him down, Shaq was there to clean up/goaltend.
Regardless, Bryant's confidence was never lacking, even back then.
Even years later, as a member of the Washington Wizards, Jordan could still get separation when he wanted.
But in 2003, in the fourth quarter of Michael Jordan's final All-Star Game, Bryant pulled off this incredible block.
Their final head-to-head matchup came in March 2003, when a 14-point win over the Wizards gave Bryant his fifth win in eight games.
