I originally intended to stop writing, but I have a habit of browsing other people's articles every time. Today, I came across an article with pictures in which Kyrie Irving mentioned that there are only six players in NBA history who excel at one-on-one play: Jordan, Kobe, James, Durant, McGrady, and Harden. Seeing this list, I would like to share my thoughts.
Honestly, when it comes to one-on-one play, LeBron James does have a gap compared to these players. James relies heavily on pick-and-roll or post-up plays in his later years, while the others are known for their tough individual skills that make defenders tremble in one-on-one situations. Durant's biggest enemy in one-on-one play is his own stamina and shooting touch. James doesn't really belong on this list, although it's not to say that his one-on-one ability is bad.
In my personal opinion, the strongest one-on-one players are Jordan, Kobe, Durant, McGrady, Iverson, and Kyrie. Harden's one-on-one ability is actually not great; he is more of a player with high basketball IQ who knows how to take advantage of the rules. Jordan was able to win two three-peats in his era, which was largely due to his personal one-on-one ability. Do you remember the Detroit Pistons' Bad Boys, known for their rough defense? Jordan faced them with great difficulty, and it was through such challenges that he honed his one-on-one skills, so there's no objection to ranking him first.
Kobe, similarly, progressed from a role player to the core of the Lakers. He has mentioned in his memoirs that he often watched highlights of Jordan playing during his free time, using the court to refine himself and develop his one-on-one skills. Indeed, Kobe's one-on-one ability reflects Jordan's influence, as he possesses a wide range of skills. Durant's one-on-one ability often involves crossovers and quick jump shots, with a shooting stance that includes a fadeaway, combined with his height and wingspan, making him almost undefendable, along with his precise mid-to-long-range shooting.
Before McGrady got injured, his dribbling, penetration, and body coordination were all top-notch. Even Jordan believed that McGrady was the only player in the NBA who could make him come off the bench, which shows the extent of McGrady's talent. His moves were textbook-like. Iverson, despite being only 1.83 meters tall, had explosive power and breakthrough ability, with fancy techniques that were unpredictable. At his peak, Iverson could dribble past players like Jordan. Kyrie's skills can be described as exquisite. In the 2016 Finals, although James' scoring ability was godlike, the championship victory was inseparable from Kyrie's brilliant performance. Kyrie often uses his one-on-one ability to save the team.
This article is original to the author, and any plagiarism will be pursued!