NBA: Top 7 dream 1-on-1 Matchups

For the longest time, basketball players, professionals and otherwise have honed their skills on the court playing 1-on-1 games. It's a judge of who the "alpha" is. It's a test of not just your skill with the ball, but your will to win as well. The stakes are high and there are no excuses, a 1-on-1 matchup is a classic "who's better-settler".

The NBA has had some phenomenal players throughout its history. And how we wish some players from different eras could have played at the same time. While that isn't possible, we can always indulge in some wishful hardcourt-fantasies.

Hence, we bring you 7 dream 1-on-1 Matchups of players from present and past that we would love to see.The players considered are in their primes, and they play a series of 7 games of 1-on-1 (game of 11). The first one to 4 wins. Let's get started.

#1 Allen Iverson vs Kyrie Irving

A game that would be dominated by endless crossovers, an exuberant display of handles and jaw-dropping finishes at the rim, this matchup includes respective ROTYs(rookie of the year). While neither is/was known for their defensive prowess, these two highly skilled offensive players make for a mouth-watering 1-on-1 contest.

Allen Iverson (AI) changed the game in more ways than one. The recently christened Hall of Famer (class of 2016) brought a cultural revolution that left its imprint on his contemporaries and the upcoming generation alike. From LeBron James to Kristaps Porzingis, AI impacted players and people worldwide.

But what is the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of AI? This:

The man crossed up Michael "THE GOAT" Jordan. This crossover cemented AI's place in basketball mythology forever. Allen Iverson wore his heart on his sleeve, combining his skill with the ball with his fearless attitude. Always playing with a chip on his shoulder, AI became a beacon of hope for all the 'little guys' (AI was only 6 feet tall, short by NBA standards) out there. His 'never quit attitude' led him to the NBA Finals in 2001 against the 'Shaq & Kobe Lakers' where his team lost, but AI had already won hearts forever.

Just ask Kobe.

AI goes up against Kyrie Irving.

Irving has long been in the conversation for having the best handles in the league along with Stephen Curry. His handles are so good, AI himself admitted to Kyrie having better handles than him. Now while AI might be indulging in some modesty, Kyrie can dazzle you with an array of moves and finish at the rim in the blink of an eye. And he can shoot the ball from the 3pt line.

What's more?

He is one of the most clutch players out there. Here's some proof:

Kyrie drained a clutch 3-pointer that sealed the Cleveland Cavaliers' victory in the 2016 NBA finals. Since then, he has moved to Boston to probably prove he can win a ring without LeBron and that just showcases his will to get better. Mamba Mentality, anyone?

So then, who wins a game of 1-on-1? Is it AI or is it Kyrie?

Prime Kyrie is a better shooter than Prime AI. But Prime AI is more athletic, a tad bit quicker than Prime Kyrie. Also, AI has the most devastating crossover the league has seen. But most importantly, AI has no 'quit' in him. This very rare killer will and never die attitude is something that impacts a 1 on 1 matchup hugely. And this is what gives AI an edge over Kyrie.

Verdict: In a series of 7 games of 1-on-1, Prime Allen Iverson edges out Prime Kyrie Irving 4 games to 3. It will be really close. But it's a game of 1-on-1 and well AI is....AI.

#2 Larry Bird vs Kevin Durant

Larry Bird is 6'9" while Kevin Durant is upwards of 6'9". Both are NBA MVPs. Both are NBA Champions. And both can shoot the lights out of the basketball. We wouldn't be surprised if the two break into a game of H-O-R-S-E mid-way. These two perennial All-Stars have led their respective teams through their dominant offensive firepower. But how do they fare against one another?

Larry Bird has countless accolades to his name. 'Larry Legend' along with Magic Johnson was responsible for rescuing the NBA in the 80's from the depths of PR hell. Also, he might be the namesake of Larry the Bird (Twitter Logo).

Larry Bird was a stone-cold assassin on the court. The Hall of Famer is a 3-time NBA MVP, a 3 time NBA Champion and is considered to be one of the best players ever to lace them up. He was a prolific scorer, an incredible passer and made up for his lack of athletic ability with his cerebral play. Bird read the game better than most, and used his supreme basketball IQ to out-think and outplay his opponent. Also, he happens to be one the most legendary trash-talkers on the court.

One of the most competitive players to ever play the game, Bird had the mental strength to pull off amazing spectacles like this:

Bird won the inaugural 3-point contest in his warmup jacket. Oh, and his statement to his opponents before the contest: "which one of you guys is finishing second?"

Need we say more?

To challenge Bird, we have "The Durantula", Kevin Durant (KD). KD is one of the purest scorers the game has ever seen. Fadeaways, 3 point shots, mid-range jumpers, he does it all. Adding a crossover to his game that he regularly deploys, KD is a great off-the-dribble shooter who can be relied on with the ball as the clock runs out. Also, he has improved drastically on defense and is a much better 1-on-1 defender than Bird ever was. Since the past two years, KD has been touted as the best player behind LeBron James. And just that much, says volumes about his game.

But KD has had to face a lot of flak recently for abandoning ship and joining the Golden State Warriors (GSW). But the move has paid off. He was responsible for this dagger in Game-3 of the 2017 NBA Finals that sealed the game (and possibly the series) for GSW:

Despite his heroics, KD still faces a lot of hate for his decision to join Golden State. Here's Larry Bird with his say on KD changing teams.

And this is where we draw the distinction. This is a game of 1-on-1, not a regular season game. Not to take anything away from KD, his move to GSW has been termed weak on multiple occasions. Now while that may not be exactly true, Bird surely has the mental advantage over the self-conscious KD. And that trash talk laced with Bird's southern twang matters, a lot.

So, will there be a lot of jump-shots? Yes. Will there be a lot of trash talk? Yes. Is KD a better 1 on 1 defender than Larry? Definitely yes. But Larry Bird knows how to play mind games better than anyone else. And it helps to have ice in your veins.

Verdict: Another close matchup that would probably go 4 to 3 in a 7 game series of 1-on-1. There'll be some incredible borderline-impossible shots from both the players. KD would be hard to defend for Bird but Bird will know how to get under KD's skin. And no matter who you are, Larry Bird knows how to throw you off of your game. Bird flies away with this one.

#3 Steve Nash vs Stephen Curry

This is probably the only matchup that would involve almost no trash-talk. There would probably be no mind-games, no taunts, no stare-downs. Just skill. Pure, unreal, skill. Curry and Nash are two of the most effective point guards to have ever graced the NBA. And a 1-on-1 matchup between the two would be an absolutely delightful display of speed, finesse, and skill with the ball.

Steve Nash was the focal point of a system (SSOL - Seven seconds or less) that majorly contributed to the way the game in the NBA is played today. In his prime, Nash would penetrate defenses and destroy teams with his pick and roll partner Amare Stoudemire. The Suns offense was unstoppable, and Nash was the show-runner. Not only was he probably the best passer in the league in his time (and one of the greatest ever), he was one of the deadliest shooters as well (hello, 50-90-40).

But while Nash couldn't carry the Suns to an NBA championship, his extraordinary skill and consequent exploits earned him back-to-back NBA MVP (Most Valuable Player) awards over the likes of Shaquille O'Neal, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kobe Bryant. Legend.

The only guard since Steve Nash to win back-to-back NBA MVPs is Stephen Curry.

Curry has been an important part of the "Small Ball" revolution that has taken over the NBA. Curry and his team Golden State Warriors have to come to dominate the league with their quick passing, shooting and on-the-ball pressure defense. All this has earned Curry and the Warriors two NBA Championships ('15,'17), making the Warriors, arguably one of the best teams ever.

Curry can kill you in multiple ways. Blessed with an elite court-vision and basketball IQ, he penetrates the defense just like Nash in his hay-day (some would argue, better) and gets to the rim. Double team Curry, and he will find the open man with his immaculate passing. Switch him on to a big man and he WILL score a 3. Double team him beyond the arc, and if he wants, he WILL score a 3. Heck, he crosses the half court, he will score the 3.

The man shoots from the logo. The man scores from the logo. And with all things said and done, if Curry continues with his form for long, he will probably go down in the history as the best shooter ever to play in the NBA, which is a problem for Steve Nash.

As deadly a shooter Steve Nash is, he never regularly took the long bombs Curry does. He never shot, nor scored as densely and frequently as Curry. It's important to note that while Nash grew up and played with a "pass first" mentality, Curry started off as a Shooting Guard and later switched to Point. The inference? Curry is much more aggressive on the offensive end.

This one isn't as close as you'd like it to be. Curry is better at getting his shot off the dribble than Nash. Also, Curry happens to be an underrated defender whereas Nash, was, honestly, a liability on defense. Don't underestimate Nash, he helped Curry become the player he is today, but Curry just happens to be a better 1-on-1 player.

Verdict: Stephen Curry takes it 4 to 2 in a series of 7 1-on-1 games. Nash would be hard to stop for Curry but Curry would just be impossible for Nash. Also, it will rain 3s.

#4 Hakeem Olajuwon vs Tim Duncan

These two "big men" changed the common perception of "bigs" relying just on muscle to score. Relying not only on their size but also their finesse, Hakeem Olajuwon and Tim Duncan dominated their opponents day in and day out. Both were cornerstones of their franchises and pivotal to their team winning the NBA championship. Both of these giants of the game feature amongst the best players of all time and a 1-on-1 matchup between the two would be a treat for the eyes.

Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon had the strength of an ox and the agility of a fox. Combining that quickness with his skill, Olajuwon was a force to be reckoned with. Considered to be one of the best post-players of all time, Hakeem had a staggering number of moves in his offensive arsenal. The 2-time NBA champion graced us with one of the most beautiful, unstoppable moves of all time: The Dream Shake

Not just that, Hakeem was a mammoth on the defensive end too. Here's a staggering stat to put across the point: Hakeem is the only NBA player to retire being Top-10 all-time in blocks, scoring, rebounding (currently, 11th) and steals! The man possessed such a flawless footwork on the court that NBA players like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard and others took private lessons from the "Dream". Oh, the versatility. Oh, the skill.

They say you beat fire with fire. Maybe we can conjure a nightmare (albeit a "boring one") here for the Dream in the Spur(now retired) behemoth Tim Duncan. Some would say the "Spurs way" of team-centric basketball diminished Tim's stats. While that may be true, the "Big Fundamental" put up decent numbers while leading his team to five NBA championships. Duncan was the defensive anchor, a wall, who guarded the likes of Shaquille O'Neal (in his hay-day with the Lakers) 1-on-1 despite Shaq's imposing physical prowess.

While Hakeem had the dream shake, Duncan had the perennial bank shot. It helps to be almost 7 feet tall, and it helps to have a feather touch. Take a look:

While it's hard to describe exactly just how efficiently-beautiful Tim Duncan's game was, here's a quote from former NBA big-man, Greg Oden to put things in perspective:

“Everyone’s been telling me that as a big man, no matter how much I prepare myself, you learn your toughest lesson when you go down to San Antonio. The other day [former NBA player and Blazers assistant coach] Monty Williams pulled me aside and told me: “That guy down there” — meaning Tim Duncan — “has had surgery on his left knee. He can only jump about this high [holds his fingers about an inch apart]. He won’t say a word to you, and he will Bust. Your. A–.”

Enough Said.

So who takes this battle of 1 on 1? Another close one, while Tim Duncan undoubtedly had a more consistent and distinguished career, in their primes, Hakeem was just unstoppable. Prime Hakeem has a killer dream shake and overpowering athleticism (something that Duncan lacks), that makes him a 2-way force.

Verdict: Duncan will give Hakeem a good fight but "The Dream" will probably win the series 4 to 3. But you know what? Tim Duncan wouldn't care. 1 on 1 isn't the Spur-way anyway.

#5 LeBron James vs Scottie Pippen

Some of you will probably say, "Blasphemous!". How dare the King (LeBron) not feature against Michael Jordan, or at least Kobe? Well, we hate to break it to you, but comparing LeBron to Kobe or Michael in a game of 1-on-1 is like comparing apples and oranges. Like comparing a sniper rifle and a shotgun. Like comparing two entities that are different in nature whilst being equally effective. 1-on-1 is not Lebron's nature, "The King" is a pass-first, kill-later player. While Kobe and Jordan were Kill-now, Kill-later, Kill-until there's no one left to kill players.

And hence we pick Robin to Jordan's Batman, Scottie Pippen. Scottie Pippen and LeBron James are similar players in their style of play. Their first instinct isn't to score first but to make the right play, which more often than not involved making the right pass. A 1-on-1 matchup between these two NBA champions will be prime-time coverage for sure.

Do we really need to introduce the King? LeBron James is currently a top-10 all-time NBA player already. He dominates his generation like Kobe and Duncan dominated theirs. James has been the face of the NBA for quite some time and rightly so. Never has the NBA seen a player so big, so quick and so dominant on the hardwood floor. We don't believe anyone is stopping the King in the open court, rushing down like a raging bull, jumping over defenders and stuffing the rim. The scary thing? LeBron James has gotten better every single year. And he doesn't seem to slow down. Here are some highlights:

The freak of nature that Lebron James is, he has constantly added to his game in terms of skill. LeBron is one of the best passers in the league. Combine that with his supreme court-vision and basketball IQ and you have a beast that can tear down defenses in more ways than one. LeBron also happens to be a decent 1-on-1 defender and a spectacular team defender. His jumper has consistently improved since he entered the league and so has his reliability in the clutch. The 3-time champion has been to 7 straight NBA Finals. Seven. Period.

You could say Scottie was the original LeBron. Pippen certainly thinks so. A lot of people overlook the greatness of Scottie Pippen mainly because he happened to win his 6 championship rings playing #2 to Michael Jordan. And yet, Scottie was as important a piece as Michael for the then Chicago Bulls. Micheal took a special liking to Pippen, and you can imagine what playing 1-on-1 at length with the "G.O.A.T" could do for your game. Pippen was a lockdown defender, who could shut down players at will. Scottie's main role alongside Jordan? Make the right play and defend the other team's best player. And sometimes dunk all over people. Well, he excelled at that.

One could argue that Scottie Pippen was heavily underrated. While some say he "hitched a ride" to being honored as one of the "50 Greatest NBA Players". The bottom line is, Scottie Pippen has six NBA championships, and he was one of the most versatile players ever. Here's a quote from Phil Jackson's (the coach of the Chicago Bulls that won 6 titles) book "Eleven Rings" that describes Scottie's talent during his stint in the 1982 Dream Team:

"Michael (Jordan) had regarded Pippen (Scottie) as the most talented member of his supporting cast. But after watching him outplay Magic Johnson, John Stockton, Clyde Drexler, and other future Hall of Famers in Barcelona (venue of 1982 Olympics), Michael realised that Scottie was the best all-around player on what many consider the best basketball team ever assembled. Scottie, Michael had to admit, had even outshone him in several of the games."

Truth.

So, the best all-around player of arguably the most talented team ever assembled vs the player who many consider THE best all-around player to ever play the game? Who takes this? Although LeBron can guard all 5 positions in today's game, Scottie Pippen is arguably the better 1-on-1 defender. But then, Prime Lebron isn't a Lebron who would fail to show up in the 4th quarter of an NBA finals. Prime Lebron would win an NBA Championship being down 3-1. Scottie might have a lot of offensive weapons and defensive wizardry but LeBron is just a force of nature who would get to the hoop every single time. Even if he doesn't, he is a better shooter than Scottie. All hail the King.

Verdict: LeBron takes the series 4 games to 2, much to his dismay.

#6 Shaquille O'Neal vs Wilt Chamberlain

We are not sure how many reserve backboards would be needed to have a game of 1-on-1 between these two. But there'll definitely be a lot of pain, for the rim obviously. Arguably the two most dominant players to play the game, Shaquille O'Neal and Wilt Chamberlain could throw you off the court just with their physicality. It'd be surprising if there isn't a natural calamity that takes place when these two giants decide to go against one another on the court. Neither of them can probably shoot mid-range jumpers. Neither of them can shoot the 3. But neither of them will let you score on the rim against them either. These two individuals were so drastically powerful that they forced the league to change their own rules in order to make the game "fairer". And the best thing about this matchup? Neither of them is going to the free throw line.

Shaquille O'Neal (Shaq) is a 4 time NBA champion, an entertainer, and a very successful businessman. Oh, and he also happens to be the most dominant player of the modern era. Shaq would push you in the post using his gigantic body until he was close enough to do his signature spin and dunk. If not that, well he had his other tricks up his sleeve. Not only was Shaq a physically imposing specimen in the post, he also had the extreme quickness to find his way to the basket. Finally, opposition teams had to resort to "hack a Shaq"( owing to Shaq's poor Free-Throw %) to "contain" the big fella.

The man still had monster stats. And performances that one doubts can ever be matched.

Despite his dominance, some (including Shaq) still believe Shaq could have done more. His work ethic was questioned time and again and one could say that was a driving wedge between Shaq and Kobe that led to breaking up of the early 2000s Lakers dynasty. But then even a "limited" version of Shaq was enough. Way more than enough.

From one giant to another, the late Wilt Chamberlain was an enigmatic, complex and often notorious character who was considered to be simply "super-human". Wilt dabbled with multiple sports like shot put, high jump, broad jump, weightlifting and track events in school and college; finally settling with basketball. And then this happened:

Wilt Chamberlian holds the record for most points in an NBA game (100). On March 2 1962, Wilt Chamberlian scored 100 points in a game against the New York Knicks. One hundred (an NBA record). Wilt currently holds 72 NBA records, 68 by himself. Take a look (it will take a while). Here's a stat to put things into perspective: In the 1961-62 NBA season, Wilt Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points per game and 25.7 rebounds per game.

Despite his staggering dominance, Wilt was able to win only two NBA Championships and was constantly hounded for his inability to win when it counted the most. The game was played a lot differently in Wilt's time than it is played today, the competition was less, so was the coverage. But with everything said and done, in retrospect, the late Wilt Chamberlain will always remain one of the greatest players ever to have played.

So who wins? It's anyone's guess. Flip a coin. This is one of two matchups that can't be decided. You just can't say which one of the two giants would trump the other. While in his prime, Wilt was more athletic, Shaq had better footwork. While Wilt was a slightly better defensive player, Shaq had a wider range of offensive moves.

Verdict: In a series of 7 games of 1-on-1, it's anyone's guess.

N Carolina v Texas Tech — The only certain outcome of this matchup

#7 Michael Jordan vs Kobe Bryant

If there's one matchup we would gladly (almost desperately) empty our banks to see, it's this one. It's the teacher vs the student. It's the original vs the re-mix. It's the same beast, different bodies. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are the two players who dominated the "isolation 1-on-1" game. Everything Michael did, Kobe studied and replicated; and then some. They share the same assassin mentality, being two of the most competitively cut-throat players to ever lace them up. Be it playing with sickness or with broken fingers, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were impervious to pain and any obstacles that stood in their way.

Michael Jordan (MJ) went on to win 6 NBA Championships to Kobe's 5. They both did it playing the triangle offense, under the same coach (Phil Jackson). And they both did it in spectacular style. Not just the style of play, so enamored was Kobe by MJ, that he even adopted some of MJ's mannerisms. While most consider MJ to be the greatest player of all time, Kobe's isn't far behind.

The athletic high-flying Jordan made his first prominent mark in the basketball world by nailing this clutch shot to lead his college team (North Carolina Tar Heels) to the NCAA championship. And since then, there was no stopping Michael. Michael and the Bulls achieved their first "3-peat" (winning 3 championships in a row) between '90-'93. Which was followed by a year of Baseball. Which was followed by another "3-peat" ('95-'98). Jordan was the finals MVP for all six of those championships. And in that period, the Bulls never went to a game 7 in an NBA finals.

While MJ relied more on his athletic ability during the first half of his career, he developed a deadly mid-range game in the latter half to cope with his aging body. No matter what the situation, MJ overcame adversity and challenges to come out on top. But despite all his skill, the things that set Michael apart from his competition were his creativity and ruthless competitive drive. G.O.A.T.

If there's someone that matches MJ's ruthless competitive drive step by step, it's the "Black Mamba", Kobe Bryant. Kobe came into the league right out of high-school, thanks to a legendary, now almost mythical pre-draft workout. He had to spend some time on the bench during his initial seasons but soon after drafting Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe and Shaq would lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 3-peat ('00-'02). A fallout between the two led to Shaq being traded but Kobe subsequently led Lakers to two more championships ('09-'10). In between those two championship runs was a phase where due to lack of options, Kobe had to carry all the offensive load. Which, led to this:

Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in '06. 81 points (2nd most points in an NBA game behind Wilt's 100). The range and difficulty of shots make it an even more impressive feat than Wilt's 100. Here's a mind-boggling stat of Prime-Kobe: In the '06-'07 season, Kobe had ten 50+ points games (4 of which were consecutive). So legendary was Kobe's career, that the Lakers recently retired BOTH of his jerseys (8,24); something that had never been done before. G.O.A.T#2

So then, between the master and the teacher, which one gets the nod in a series of 1-on-1? Michael Jordan says if there's anyone who could beat him in a 1-on-1 it's Kobe. Kobe says if there's anyone who could beat him 1-on-1, it's Jordan. Talk about mutual respect. And some jibes.

Jordan and Kobe were both formidable defenders in their prime. Kobe is a career 12-time All-Defensive selection, while Jordan is a 9-time All-Defensive selection, along with a Defensive Player of the Year award in '98. With that said, MJ was a better 1-on-1 defender in his prime than Kobe.

While Jordan had an impeccable mid-range fadeaway, so did Kobe, and then some. Kobe's range was unlimited and the game made him a better shooter than Jordan. But Jordan was better at getting to the hoop. Both had excellent body control, but while Kobe would take (and make) shots from any range, Michael preferred to get closer to the rim.

While the difference in their skill is none, their game was different due to their physical capabilities. Jordan had a broader frame and a stronger body, while Kobe had a more slithery-flexible frame. And if there's one thing Jordan can take advantage of, it's his body strength by taking Kobe down in the post, but then Kobe has that thing, of making impossible shots.

It doesn't get any better than this.

Toss a coin, again. It's two "complete players" going at it. While both have some things they are slightly better at than the other, the one thing that they have in equal amounts (and more than everyone else) is their killer-will. And in a series of 1-on-1, well it's impossible to pick one. They discuss this matchup more than we do, probably.

Verdict: Fans. The fans of the game are the real winners in this.

Enter captio — "Yo MJ, they are saying LeBron is better than me!" "They're idiots, Kobe."