Horace Grant on why Kobe ranks higher than LeBron in the GOAT debate: "I thought I was looking at Michael Jordan on how he took over the game"

Add Horace Grant to the long list of former NBA players who argue that the late Kobe Bryant is a forgotten man in the greatest of all-time discussion. However, not only does Grant think that Bryant deserves to be in the GOAT conversation, but he thinks that the Los Angeles Lakers legend is the next best thing to Michael Jordan — even before LeBron James.

During his recent appearance on former teammate Stacey King’s podcast, Grant said that the GOAT depends on what the criteria are. However, if you put a gun to his head and ask him to mention a name, he said it would be Jordan, of course.

“If you pin me down to pick my GOAT, it would be MJ,” said Grant. “With all respect to LeBron and Kobe and many other players that you can argue as the GOAT. But I’ve seen Kobe Bryant when Shaq will foul out, got in foul trouble. I thought I was looking at Michael Jordan, how he took over games, and led us to victory many times when Shaq was on the bench with foul trouble and what have you. But I would say, MJ 1 and Kobe 1-A.”

Grant played with both Jordan and Bryant

It’s easy to say that Kobe is the closest thing to Michael. He was an admitted MJ copycat, and Jordan himself once said that Bryant is the only player who can beat him in a game of one-on-one because he stole all his moves. However, as far as Grant is concerned, he played with both players during their primes, so he knows what he is talking about.

There were many instances when Bryant took over after Shaquille O’Neal got into foul trouble or fouled out during a game. While Grant did not mention it, perhaps the most notable one was during Game 4 of the 2000 NBA Finals when O’Neal fouled out with 2:33 left in the overtime period and the Lakers were up 112-109 over the Indiana Pacers.

“Kobe looked at me, and without a worry in the world, he said, ‘I got you, big fella. Imma take over,” O’Neal recalled.

Kobe’s coming-out party

A loss would have allowed the Pacers to tie the series at 2-2 with Game 5 to be played in Indiana. However, as Kobe assured Shaq, he took over without a hitch.

Bryant went 4-5 from the field and scored 8 points in the overtime period, including the go-ahead basket with 5.9 seconds left to play. The Lakers won 120-118 to take a 3-1 lead, never looked back and won the first of three straight titles. Even Pacers legend Reggie Miller was impressed.

“Game 4, when Shaq fouled out. We were thinking, ‘Yes, because it was 2-1. Yes!’ Because we had no answer for Shaq. Zero answers. He fouled out, we got this, and that damn kid he turned into Kobe. There was nothing I could do. So yes, I’ve felt that,” Miller said.

If you look at LeBron’s long list of greatest games, surely you will find games where he took over, too. He scored 25 straight points, including the game-winner versus the Pistons in the 2007 ECF. James also put up 41 in Games 5 and 6 of the 2016 NBA Finals when the Cavs were facing elimination. However, as they say, if Kobe is the closest player to Michael, and MJ is No.1, then the nearest to him would be No.2, or 1-A, as Horace says.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 6, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Horace Grant on why Kobe ranks higher than LeBron in the GOAT debate: “I thought I was looking at Michael Jordan on how he took over the game”

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