Has Kobe Bryant Reached the Jordan Level?

There have been several articles by various authors recently either acknowledging or denying that Kobe Bryant has become the equal of Michael Jordan. 

I cannot understand why it would matter or why people care. 

Why is it that some people think M.J. was the best ball player ever and others think differently?  What difference does it make to my enjoyment of the games?  How can any opinion be definitively answered?  Please allow one writer's opinion to go on record.

Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl as quarterback for the 2000-2001 Baltimore Ravens. Does this make him a better quarterback than such championship-challenged quarterbacks as Dan Marino, Archie Manning, or Jim Kelly? Is Derek Fisher, a winner of three rings, a better point guard than Steve Nash?

A team sport is just that, a team effort.  If we were looking at tennis, boxing, bowling, or golf, I would agree with the titles theory.  These examples show just how silly it is to look at league titles in a team sport as a measure of individual talent.

The general wisdom of some gives little credit to M.J.’s surrounding cast of characters (Dennis Rodman was a character).  It has been implied that other than Michael, the Bulls had little talent.  However, the Scottie Pippen-led Bulls came within one blown officiating call from making the Eastern Conference finals in the first year of M.J.’s “retirement”. 

The mere fact that they made the playoffs makes a mockery of the poor teammate’s theory.  The added fact that they were legitimate title contenders without Michael shows this line of thought is a justification for an opinion instead of a conclusion based on analytical thinking.

So, what does the best really mean?  As a former coach, my belief is that it is a combination of traits: Athletic ability, mental focus, desire, work ethic, confidence, and skills. 

At a quick glance there are several players with exceptional athletic ability that never produced at a level commensurate with their ability:  David "Skywalker" Thompson, Darryl Dawkins, and Kwame Brown. 

Athletic Ability is what makes the games exciting.  David “Skywalker” Thompson was a player with the same ability as Julius Erving, and they were contemporaries. 

“Skywalker” slammed from the free throw line, had leaping ability like he had wings on his feet, and displayed gymnastic-like moves while he was in the air. 

Thompson apparently had drug issues and was never consistent. He was thrown out of the league for failing yet another drug test.

Darryl Dawkins was the second player ever taken out of high school, (the first being Moses Malone), and was by far the most athletic big man of his day.  Think Dwight Howard with better jumping ability. 

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