The Spin-Off: Is Kobe the Sequel to Jordan or a Remake of His Airness?

As soon as Kobe Bryant won his first NBA championship without the great Shaquille O’Neal, the comparisons became rampant between Bryant and Michael Jordan.

A quick assessment of both players reveals more similarities than differences.

NBA champion? Check. League MVP? Check. Scoring champion? Check. Overcome career-threatening, off-court allegations? Check.  Olympic gold medalist? Check.

Yeah, comparing Bryant and Jordan is like comparing apples and oranges.

If oranges were red and grew on apple trees.

Their achievements are nearly synonymous, their likenesses undeniable.

A director could only hope to be fortunate enough to find two players with more in common.

They’re a pair of 6’6”, 205 pound, shaved-head scoring machines who starred for Phil Jackson at shooting guard.

Many have decided to evaluate the players the way a movie critic would judge a remake: They prefer a side-by-side comparison of Bryant and Jordan.

Much of Bryant’s career looks like a carbon copy of the player most have proclaimed the greatest of all-time.

There’s Jackson as the obligatory link between a remake or sequel, playing coach to both players.

Wardrobes and acting styles would be similar.

Jordan had his own line of sneakers by Nike, now Bryant has Nikes of his own and he even adopted Jordan’s patented turnaround jumper as his own.

Jordan was a slam dunk champion, scoring champion, and NBA champion.

Bryant is the only other player to hold each of those honors.

Both players share a love for the game, an extreme, competitive drive to win, and the wisdom to prepare in the offseason to reach their goals.

The plot lines would be extremely similar with both players winning MVPs, yet still labeled as ballhogs who couldn’t win championships as the leader of their teams.

We all know the ending: Bryant and Jordan hold up the Larry O’Brien trophy and accept the Finals MVP award.

Still, there are plenty of different aspects in their stories, and Bryant’s tale may be more like a sequel, to be viewed on his own merits.

Bryant’s sequel would begin as he jumped from high school to the NBA unlike Part One when Jordan won a title in his three years at North Carolina.

Instead of instant superstardom like MJ, who was an All-Star and Rookie of the Year in his first season, Bryant would struggle to find his identity in the beginning. While Jordan immediately became the star of his team, Kobe would be second-fiddle to O’Neal, a superhero who needed a sidekick.  

Maybe Bryant's journey is both a sequel and a remake like Rocky II-V.

Bryant, on his voyage to cement his own legacy, unwittingly has found himself in a Jordan remake or sequel.

With the same director (Jackson) in charge of both films, you can anticipate the same script with a different cast.

Like movies, when comparing the players, you can honor both of them.

If Bryant is truly a remake of Jordan, he’ll win two more titles for his second three-peat, matching Jordan’s feat when he dominated the 90s.

If he’s a sequel, we have to wait to see if he can surpass the original in greatness.