The Takeover: The Curious Case Of Kobe Bean Bryant

Whenever there is any discussion of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, it might as well be a Bears-Packers game in December because blood pressures rise, emotions are stoked, and incredulity, straining on both sides, rules the day.  Kobe couldn’t carry Mike’s jock strap.  Mike played in a different era, without the zone defenses Kobe sees regularly.  Mike regularly went up against ultra-physical defensive play and still dominated.  And on and on.  To be certain, Jordan’s fans have much to stand on, it is easier to make the case for Jordan.  Jordan’s resume is beyond compare.  You know the numbers by now:  6 titles, 6 Finals MVPs, 5 MVPs awards, and these merely a smidgen of what Jordan accomplished in his legendary tenure.  Jordan’s numbers are staggering.  Bryant would have to rewrite his own history to catch up on that basis.

But like so many things in life and the game itself, when boiled down, the debate is really simple:  Who is the better player?

In full disclosure, I grew up a hard, hard Jordan fan, and still am.  Like many kids, I cried as a 12 year-old when Jordan first retired, and was as gleeful as a glutton at an all-you-can-eat buffet when he returned and established himself as the GOAT.  I was convinced, along with most of the basketball-loving public and the world, that Jordan was as good as it was gonna get. 

Enter Kobe “Bean” Bryant.  A Jordan clone if I ever saw one.  We’ve all heard (and seen) the similarities between them in style on and off the court, it is both eerie and often times annoying, and on this score writers like Bill Simmons are on solid-footing in their observations of No.24. 

We witnessed his 2005-06 brilliance, and most of us had to admit that he’d given that particular MVP award away not on the court, but in a Colorado hotel room in December of 2003.  And that’s not a knock on Nash.  Many great performances would Kobe give, but still one first round exit after another was his lot.  It seemed like his talent was going to waste.

Last season, it finally seemed like he’d climbed the mountain and overcome the 2004 Finals’ debacle against the Pistons (where he displayed awful shot selection), his personal issues, and well-documented run-ins with coach Phil Jackson through the years.  Only, the Boston Celtics and Kevin Garnett had other plans.  Once again, a better team playing tough defense prevailed over his vaunted Lake Show.  Like Jordan, Kobe and his Lakers would have to figure out how to counter physical defenses.

But a couple weeks ago, he got it done.  Yes, he had Pau Gasol, an awake Lamar Odom, and an improved and clutch Trevor Ariza.  Derek Fisher is always there when it counts.  But they were his guys, molded by his leadership.  One might ask the question, is Kobe in Mike’s league?

The answer is yes.  Here’s why, and why he is arguably a better player.

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