Kobe Bryant Is Better Than Michael Jordan

The one topic everyone seems to bring up is the fact that Kobe doesn’t make those around him better whereas Jordan always made those around him better. Over and over again, this single fact is brought up but no one ever looks at the players they are talking about.

Without a doubt, Jordan had a superior supporting cast around him than Kobe. Note: I’m referring to the cast Kobe has post Shaq era and pre-Gasol era.

Now, is it Kobe’s fault that those around him can’t make open shots? Is it his fault that after he gets doubled and even sometimes tripled team, Smush Parker couldn’t make an open jumper or Lamar Odom doesn’t know how to shoot?

Now if those players could hit a couple of shots extra per game, Kobe’s assist total would be much higher and the Lakers would win a lot more games. And from that, Kobe would not have been robbed of an MVP award and people actually may think twice when they say he doesn’t make those around him better.

It’s not Kobe’s responsibility to make sure the likes of Odom and Smush or Kwame Brown learn how to make layups or how to dunk the ball.

2) Jordan was a better teammate

Countless times Kobe’s been referred to as a horrible teammate. While that may be true, but if you’re comparing him and Jordan, then you’re way off base.

Kobe’s had his fair share of run-ins with his teammates and coaches, most notably Shaq and now Bynum. Most of Kobe’s altercations with his teammates have been verbal except for the one time Shaq and him got physical.

Jordan on the other hand had countless run ins with teammates. He even slapped Steve Kerr and knocked Will Perdue during practice and verbally abused Bill Cartwright during games.

As I’ve read, Cartwright was giving Jordan a pick and Michael told him to get the fuck out of his way and later told Cartwright not to get in his way unless Jordan says so. Also, him and Pippen weren’t always the greatest of friends or teammates. They both didn’t like each other that much.

Now obviously this was never blown out of proportion like it was with Shaq and Kobe and obviously Kobe took the worst of that one. It’s been said Kobe ran out Phil Jackson the first time around and while that may or may not be true (It's said Phil Jackson wanted more money and when refused, left) but let’s not forget Jordan ran out Doug Collins.

So to say Jordan was a better teammate than Kobe is an absurd statement.

3) Kobe’s a ball hog

Everyone has this notion that Kobe’s a ball hog without even watching any of his games and since most of us didn’t see Jordan play on a regular basis, you can’t say whether or not he was a ball hog.

The main argument against Kobe is that he takes too many shots and doesn’t pass the ball. Is it his fault that when there are 3 seconds left in the shot clock, his teammates pass him the ball and expect him to be something miraculous?

I’ve watched countless Laker games and whenever the Laker offense is stuck or can’t do anything or the shot clock is winding down, Kobe is given the ball and he has to do something and thus he ends up shooting some ridiculous shots.

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