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Obama says Kobe is no match for Jordan

President gives his opinion about who greatest NBA player is

Image: Jordan, Bryant Getty Images
Bulls guard Michael Jordan and the Lakers' Kobe Bryant battle on Feb. 1, 1998.

WASHINGTON - Sorry, Kobe.

President Barack Obama was asked straight out on Thursday: Kobe or Michael?

As in, who's the best? Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, a four-time NBA champion? Or the basketball legend to whom he is most often compared, Michael Jordan, who retired as a six-time champ with the Chicago Bulls and is widely regarded as the best player of all time?

"Oh, Michael," Obama answered in an interview with The Associated Press.

"I mean, Kobe's terrific. Don't get me wrong," Obama said. "But I haven't seen anybody match up with Jordan yet."

Obama, a basketball fan who hails from Chicago, is certainly no Lakers hater.

He picked Bryant's team to defeat the Orlando Magic in the finals this year, and he was right.

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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