"He's fantastic, really fantastic, " Kobe Bryant said after the two squared off in a game earlier this month.

NPR: Damian Lillard Is NBA Rookie Of The Year

"The fast-break points, that's a killer, " Kobe Bryant said.

NPR: Chandler Leads Nuggets Past Lakers, 119-108

The public debate over which team is better started before the London games when the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant said he thought he and his teammates could beat the 1992 squad.

CNN: 'NBA 2K13' lets gamers settle Dream Team debate

"Kobe is the best player in the league, " said O'Neal of Bryant, who scored a game-best 27 points.

BBC: Basketball's golden era