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Pages: 1

Who is the better player - Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan

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Posted by: fossten

Putting Kobe in perspective
By Jemele Hill
Page 2

Kobe Bryant is better than Michael Jordan.

Not more successful.

Hasn't had a bigger economic impact.

Hasn't won more MVPs.

Kobe Bryant did something Michael Jordan never
did -- score 50-plus in four consecutive games.Hasn't won more titles.

But he's a better player.

Kobe can do everything Michael did, and even a few things Michael couldn't do.

Kobe is just as good a defender. His killer instinct is just as pronounced. He can shoot, finish and explode. And just like Jordan, the more he's pissed off, the more unstoppable he is.

At the very least, Kobe's scoring spree over the last week should put to rest any lingering doubts that he's the best player in the NBA. Yes, better than Steve Nash, who is the best point guard, but not the lethal force that Kobe is. Yes, better than Dwyane Wade, who is certainly closer to the Kobe-Jordan level than LeBron James, but D-Wade's game is not as polished as Kobe's.

Kobe's streak of four straight 50-points-plus games is something none of those players can do, and it's something that hasn't been done since Wilt Chamberlain, who had an NBA-record seven straight 50-point games. Truthfully, Kobe should have tacked another 50 on Golden State on Sunday night.

Of course, the idea that Kobe is better than Jordan -- or even the best player in this league -- is as repugnant to some folks as a rectal exam. Even though Kobe has proven himself under pressure countless times, he gets the A-Rod treatment.

Kobe can't please anyone. And it doesn't help that most people suffer from revisionist history when it comes to Jordan, forgetting that he was just as poor a teammate and a ball hog and that he ran off coach Doug Collins like Kobe ran off Phil Jackson the first time.

In fact, you could argue that Jordan was even worse. Far as we know, Kobe hasn't jacked up any of his teammates the way Jordan punched out Steve Kerr and Will Perdue at practice.

Kobe will never be forgiven for Shaq's departure, but you're delusional if you think Jordan wouldn't have had any ego issues playing alongside a player with Shaq's star power.

The best-player argument shouldn't be determined by personal dislike. But if you want to take it there, fine. Jordan was hardly the ideal husband, but only the tabloids were brave enough to venture into his personal life. And what about those gambling issues? If Jordan's life had been covered like Kobe's, we would have an entirely different opinion of His Airness.

Besides a different level of media scrutiny, there was definitely a difference in the level of competition during Jordan's heyday compared to now.

We ask you to step back and take an objective look. Isn't Kobe the best player in the NBA? Yesterday's NBA player certainly was more fundamentally sound, but there's no question that today's player is bigger, stronger and faster. When Jordan played, he was a singular force that could not be equaled. Jordan was guarded by the likes of John Starks and Joe Dumars, who were fine players but weren't nearly as skilled or physically imposing as LeBron, D-Wade, Tracy McGrady or even Vince Carter.

The NBA is tougher now.

Kobe, like Michael, is surrounded with mediocre to below-average talent, and Phoenix, Dallas and San Antonio are all better than the Utah, Portland and the Charles Barkley-led Phoenix team that Michael met in the NBA Finals.

Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and Patrick Ewing will be among the best centers ever, but none of them affected the league the way Shaq and Tim Duncan have. There are two two-time MVPs in Kobe's own conference (Duncan, Nash), which is a problem Jordan never faced during his championship runs. Seven-footers weren't launching 3s back then. Magic Johnson and the Lakers were on a downward spiral, and the Pistons were on their last legs. It was Michael and everyone else. That's not the case for Kobe.

The shame of it is that Kobe might finish his career without a MVP, even though his ability can be compared only to that of Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. All this time we've been looking for a player who is better than Jordan, but most of us can't get beyond whether we like or dislike Kobe as a person to recognize his contributions to the game.

Ultimately the MVP award will go to either Nash or Dirk Nowitzki, who are deserving this season, but neither are as good as Kobe. Dallas and Phoenix are strong enough to make the playoffs without their stars. The Lakers, however, are a lottery team without Kobe.

Now that's a valuable player.

Jemele Hill, a Page 2 columnist and writer for ESPN The Magazine, can be reached at jemeleespn@gmail.com.

Posted by: decibels5

Kobe is better one on one. More points

I believe Michael was a better team player. More titles

Posted by: Iancusp

kobe all the way the only difference in the two is kobe bigger

Posted by: shagdrum

Question: Why does Kobe cry after sex?

Answer: Pepper Spray

Posted by: rmac694203

I think this is a great question. Kobe is sick. That's all there is to it. Look at what he does in some of the games. He's a man among boys sometimes. I think Kobe is has far more talent than Nash or Dirk, but whether he is more valuable is questionable. Nash is rediculous in his own way, he looks like a boy among men, but weaves, dishes, and shoots like defenders aren't even there. As for Jordan, I was alot younger during his glory years, so it's hard to compare him. Let's just say this, Jordan's got the MVP's, the championships, records, and the respect. Kobe still has some work to do.

Posted by: fossten

Quote:

Originally Posted by shagdrum

Question: Why does Kobe cry after sex?

Answer: Pepper Spray

LOL that's harsh!

Posted by: makeumymonkey

If there even has to be a question if Jordan is better than Kobe, then there is probably some mental retardation issues with the individuals posting here. Especially, the ridiculous speakings of one Jemele Hill. I am going to guess that you are under 25 years old. Lacking in the knowledge of basketball. To counter your pathetic attempts at proving Kobe is "the man"....walk with me, rookie...

Jordan changed the face of the NBA unlike any player before him and never again after him. He generated more revenue than any NBA player ever.

Scoring 50 points in in 4 consecutive games? And? He is a bigger ball-hog than MJ??? Is this the point???

"Kobe can do everything Michael did, and even a few things Michael couldn't do."

Hmmm...Kobe does not have a college degree. Kobe does not have 6 championships. League MVP's??? No contest! Finals MVP's??? Oh yeah, Kobe can't even get to 6 championship games to even attempt to earn it. Scoring titles? NEXT!!! Defensive player of the year?? NEXT!! OK, I'm getting bored already with proving this whole point.....

It is quite easy to state that Kobe is the best player in the NBA seeing how it's a bunch of high schoolers playing now. During MJ's era, you could name several future Hall of Famers/Greatest of all time players...how many can you really do that with now??? And if you are stupid enough to even attempt to answwer that, keep in mind, high schoolers!!!!

As for Jordan having ego issues playing with another star on the team, had it happened, there wouldn't be a comparison....MJ is the best in the world and another star on the team would not change that. In fact, it would have meant more MVP's and Championships, had it actually been done.

To claim that Jordan was not under the microscope with his personal issues is absurd. This tells me you are very young. Remember, the Jordan Rules??? The entire book was to bash MJ. This is how we come to know about him punching his teammates. Ideal husband? Should we even go there? Last I checked, MJ didn't rape women. LOL. Gambling? Hmm...a man gambles on his own time with his own money and NOT on the sport he so dearly loved! Yeah, he should get the death penalty. Curious though, so little has been publicized about MJ, yet you seem to know all these faults about him. You must know him personally or something. LOL.

Now to the part that makes me laugh....

"The NBA is tougher now"

WOW!!! Dare I say "BAD BOYS"??? Kobe could not have done what MJ did against the Bad Boys of Detroit. The man still dropped 30 a game on them even with the style of basketball they were playing. Kobe would probably go home and cry, then purchase his wife another diamond ring.

"Kobe, like Michael, is surrounded with mediocre to below-average talent, and Phoenix, Dallas and San Antonio are all better than the Utah, Portland and the Charles Barkley-led Phoenix team that Michael met in the NBA Finals."

WOW!!! Utah has two hall of famers....best pick and roll in the game..EVER!!!! Phoenix Suns of old?? Barkley and company had a squad. Dude, are you really serious???

"Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and Patrick Ewing will be among the best centers ever, but none of them affected the league the way Shaq and Tim Duncan have."

*SIGH* This is borderline absurd. The Dream was better than all of them. Mind you, the Dream shook Shaq out of his shoes. HEAD TO HEAD, mind you!!! Shaq became a dominant force, eventually. Speed and agility in a center vs. Power....I take The Dream over any of them, any day of the week.

Let's learn a lesson in all this....being the best player in the NBA does not mean you get rewarded with MVP's for no reason. MVP's mean you directly increased the productivity for your team and did so better than anyone else did for their team in the league.

Bottom line:

Jordan: best player to ever play the game.

Kobe: best NBA rapist of all time.

Posted by: fossten

Hurling insults at random people in your first post is a good way to get yourself branded as a troll.

Posted by: nightriddah

Are you guys seriously even asking this question? I watched, recorded, and watched again most of the bulls (IN THERE HAYDAY) and lakers games (playoffs included) because i love both Kobe and Michael.
Michael Jordan, hands down is the greatest basketball player of all time.
Consider this, if Jordan hadn't retired because of gambling issues...errrrr....
him taking time off because his father died and he needed to get away from the game, he would have 8 freakin rings!! Can you even fathom that. Hell, Houston wouldn't have one either of their rings if Mike had never left. It's conceivable that Kobe would have no rings if not for Shaq being there.
I love Kobe, don't get me wrong, but MJ is the G.O.A.T
Ask Kobe where he got his game from. He even mimickes Mike when he's being interviewed

Posted by: fossten

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightriddah

It's conceivable that Kobe would have no rings if not for Shaq being there.

I appreciate your reasoning in the rest of your post, but this year might be the year he proves this theory wrong.

Posted by: nightriddah

Quote:

Originally Posted by fossten

I appreciate your reasoning in the rest of your post, but this year might be the year he proves this theory wrong.

Spurs in 6 Fossten

Posted by: 95DevilleNS

Quote:

Originally Posted by fossten

Hurling insults at random people in your first post is a good way to get yourself branded as a troll.

Agreed, but the troll does bring up some great on-topic points. Jordan all the way.

Posted by: fossten

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightriddah

Spurs in 6 Fossten

You were saying?

Posted by: fossten

Whew, I'm glad that's over. MAN I HATE THE SPURS.

Posted by: Kbob

The game hasn't been the same since Jordan retired from the Bulls (the 2nd time). Lebron's my favorite player right now, but I'm really liking the Celtics more than any other team since the championship era Bulls.

I've always liked Kobe as a player, too, since that slam dunk contest he won in the 90's with his shaven head (I believe he was a rookie). But he has issues personally (who doesn't).

Posted by: nightriddah

Quote:

Originally Posted by fossten

You were saying?

Yea, I knew you wouldn't let that one slip past you

Gotta give credit where credit is due, I at least thought
S.A. would take it to seven!!! Should be an interesting finals.........
especially if Boston get's past Detroit

Posted by: fossten

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kbob

The game hasn't been the same since Jordan retired from the Bulls (the 2nd time). Lebron's my favorite player right now, but I'm really liking the Celtics more than any other team since the championship era Bulls.

I've always liked Kobe as a player, too, since that slam dunk contest he won in the 90's with his shaven head (I believe he was a rookie). But he has issues personally (who doesn't).

I'll trade my issues for his.

Posted by: fossten

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightriddah

Yea, I knew you wouldn't let that one slip past you

Gotta give credit where credit is due, I at least thought
S.A. would take it to seven!!! Should be an interesting finals.........
especially if Boston get's past Detroit

If that series goes 7, the winner will be dogmeat for the Lakers.

Posted by: Kbob

Quote:

Originally Posted by fossten

I'll trade my issues for his.

Let me clarify, I don't like his attitude. He's not better than Jordan, either.

Posted by: nightriddah

knew it was coming, now Jim Rome is sayin Kobe might be better than MJ

Posted by: fossten

Jordan was more of an assassin. Kobe is the assassin and he can also carry his team on his back. Jordan invented the circus shot; Kobe uses it regularly. Actually, what I see are similarities between the two rather than seeing that one is better than the other.

I haven't made up my mind which player is better - but I will say to nightriddah - Jordan NEVER won a champ without Pippen. If Kobe wins this year with the cast he has around him - that may convince me that he's better.

Also, remember that Jordan's final play as a Chicago Bull was an offensive foul that wasn't called.

Posted by: nightriddah

Quote:

Originally Posted by fossten

Jordan was more of an assassin. Kobe is the assassin and he can also carry his team on his back. Jordan invented the circus shot; Kobe uses it regularly. Actually, what I see are similarities between the two rather than seeing that one is better than the other.

I haven't made up my mind which player is better - but I will say to nightriddah - Jordan NEVER won a champ without Pippen. If Kobe wins this year with the cast he has around him - that may convince me that he's better.

Also, remember that Jordan's final play as a Chicago Bull was an offensive foul that wasn't called.

Yea, well Kobe Never won a title without Derek Fisher

. Let's be serious though. Jordan made Pippen the player he was. Actually, he scared him into being the player he was. One of Mike's best traits was, he put pressure on you to be great also. Whether the fear was real or imagined, you feared his wrath if you missed an open shot that he passed to you out of a double-team. Pippen's nomination into the top 50 players of all time is laughable in my opinion. If I recall, he didn't do much without Jordan except call Charles Barkley fat...I can give Kobe this, he does a damn good impersonation of Michael Jordan

Posted by: nightriddah

I don't recall Jordan's team choking away a 20pt lead in the finals either.
I think we can put this question to rest..........

Posted by: Gambini

Sorry mikes the man unitl kobe wins 3 more

Posted by: fossten

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightriddah

I don't recall Jordan's team choking away a 20pt lead in the finals either.
I think we can put this question to rest..........

True enough. And you can't blame the coach because it was the same one!

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