Kobe vs. Jordan: Who honestly cares? It will never happen, and if it did Jordan would win.
Whether you ask this question based upon individual ability and skill, ability to win and compete, or anything concerning anything involving the team or teammates...Jordan wins.
It is true that America and the entire world has romanticized Jordan and his image throughout the years, but this is simply because he was brilliant.
Ask Phil Jackson who he would rather have on his team. I doubt he would pick Kobe.
These comparisons must stop. They are annoying to both men and to countless fans throughout the world. Both are unique individuals who excelled in the NBA, but they are different men who played at different times.
Jordan excelled against legends that changed the game forever. Kobe excels in a game that has changed and is still changing.
Apples and Oranges my friends.
If you must, I repeat if you must compare the two, consider throwing in some admirable competition and give LeBron James some credit. I dare not say LeBron is better than either, I am simply asking those who feel the need to find the next Jordan to give some attention that 23-year-old guy in Cleveland who has taken over the NBA.
Here are some numbers to crunch:
Michael Jordan: 1984-2003 (missed four seasons due to retirement)
- Career Stats: 30.1 PPG, 5.3 APG, 6.2 RPG, 2.4 SPG, .497% FG, .835% FT, .327% 3PT
- 6 Championships and 6 Finals MVPs
- 5 Time NBA MVP
- 10 Time Scoring Champion
- 14 Time All-Star
- 3 Time All-Star MVP
- 9 Time ALL NBA Defensive First Team
- 11 Time All NBA Team
- 1984 Rookie of the Year
- 1988 Defensive Player of the Year
Kobe Bryant: 1996-?
- Career Stats: 24.6 PPG, 4.5 APG, 5.2 RPG, 1.5 SPG, .453% FG, .838% FT, .337% 3PT
- 3 Championship Rings
- 2 Time Scoring Champion
- 9 Time NBA All-Star
- 2 Time NBA All-Star MVP
- 9 Time All NBA Selection
- 7 Time All NBA Defensive Team
LeBron James: 2003-?
- Career Stats: 27.4 PPG, 6.6 APG, 6.9 RPG, 1.8 SPG, .467% FG, .729% FT, .324% 3PT
- 4 Time NBA All-Star
- 2 Time NBA All-Star MVP
- 3 Time All NBA Selection
- 2003 Rookie of the Year
Those are their individual numbers. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but...
The Bulls won a bunch and were called the "unbeat-a-Bulls" for a reason. The Lakers won with Shaq and haven't since. The Cavs made the Finals for the first time last year but have yet to win it all.
Leave it alone and let them play their games. Just sit back and be entertained. We are lucky to have such great players to watch.
6 comments Last one added 4 months ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
The reason people care is other people like you definitively say Jordan wins. It's a lot closer than you think.
In order to give due credit to Kobe, you must recognize that he is close to or equal to Jordan's level of effectiveness as a player.
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Mike Owens about 1 year ago
Well, you clearly care if you wrote an entire article over it. As it is, I'm a fan of both but I still consider MJ to be the greatest ever. However, you give Kobe far too little credit. His offensive game, as a whole, is better than Jordans. He gets to the hoop at will and can hit a jump shot from any spot on the court. MJ got a lot of his points going to the hoop, much like Wade does now. He didn't really develop a jumper until later in his career and his range was only great out to mid range about 19 feet. His three point shot wasn't nearly as good as Kobes.
However, offense is the only place I give Kobe an edge in. MJ had the titles, the MVPs, everything. His defense was better and he was probably the best leader the game of basketball has ever seen. To me, there's no question as to who is better, but give Kobe some credit. He's only 29 and could very well end up being the sports all time leading scorer when it's all said and done, and that's a damn impressive feat in its own right.
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ryan stearns about 1 year ago
yea but kobe is still playing and i belive is still in his prime considering he won MVP this year in his 12th season... Jordan had many All-Star Players on his team throughout his career... Kobe is a better ovensive player due to his explosivness and ability to get to the basket.. Kobe won a Scoring Title last year or 2 years ago and did not have Shaq. Shaq did not make Kobe. Kobe made Shaq is wat i belive. After Shaq got traded he lacked the scoring ability without kobe.
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josh millsap 8 months ago
u guys are all idiots. kobhe is not even in the same league as jordan and never will be. kobe isnt even the best playe rin the league right now. kobe doesnt make other players better like jordan did. the numbers prove that jordan was a better player look at career points per game as well as any other catergory. the nly area where kbe is better is 3 point shooting. he shoots a whole 1% better. and look at the number he takes compared to jordan. not to mention comapre the times. when jordan was doing it the nba had teams that played defense and now there are very few teams that play defense. i rest my case.
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Tracy Daniels 7 months ago
If Jordan was a 10, Kobe would be a 7, if you think thats closes, then you Think an A on a test is close to a C+, its no where no close. How the hell is his offensive game better? Jordan was unstopppable with his drives and later in the game, fade aways, not to mention Kobe has never drawn in the defense like Jordan has, KOBE not even more valuable than MAGIC
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Nuno Raposo 4 months ago
well, lets get funny and compare 15 seasons of Jordan (even the two last ‘’crappy’’ ones) with 12 seasons from Bryant (the bad rookie season too) and bring it down to one minute. therefore lets take the stats (02/27/09 on nba.com) and say: 1) a point is worth 1 point 2) an assist is worth 2 points 3) a rebound is worth 2 points 4) a steal is worth 3 points 5) a block is worth 3 points 6) a turnover is worth -3 points and / it by minutes.
Jordan: 30.1 + 10.6 + 12.4 + 7.2 + 2.4 – 8.19 = 54.51 / 38.3 = 1.423237 points per minute
Bryant: 25.1 + 09.2 + 10.6 + 4.5 + 1.5 – 8.79 = 41.11 / 36.5 = 1.126301 points per minute
In a 48 minutes match mj vs kb the score is: 68 to 54! the winner is michael jordan…yet
for those who want to change the numbers go ahead, jordan wins it everytime!!!
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