Michael Jordan Believes Only Kobe Bryant Is on His Level

Sportswriter Roland Lazenby caused a bit of a stir yesterday with a mad flurry of tweets comparing Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.

The ultimate gem came when Lazenby, who is currently writing a book on Jordan and published Mad Game, The NBA Education of Kobe Bryant about the young superstar in 2000, revealed that MJ believes Bryant is the only player in the game that can be a compared to him.

This comes hot on the heels of another headline-grabbing comparison.

Kobe actually stated that Chris Paul and Derrick Rose are the only two players in the league that have the same competitive edge he possesses, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPNLA.com.

But the question everyone wants answered is, is Air Jordan correct in drawing comparisons of himself to the Lakers' superstar?

Absolutely.

Jordan was reluctant to praise anyone and spent a career tearing defenders to shreds. He believed he was the best and went out and proved it every single night. 

Even during his Hall of Fame introduction speech (linked below), he used most of it as an opportunity to attack and belittle former players and doubters.

The fact that he has now conceded that Kobe has done what it takes to be compared to himself is the highest praise the Chicago Bulls legend can hoist upon someone. 

MJ didn't even bring rings or titles into the conversation.

He knows that No. 24 has just one less championship ring going into his 16th season in the league and knows that Kobe has a solid chance of tying him by the time his career is over. 

The comparison carries weight because His Airness recognizes that Bryant has been absolutely resilient and motivated to continue winning titles.

That drive was what elevated Jordan above the competition.

Even after being stomped out in the postseason by the Dallas Mavericks last year, Kobe has been determined to get better.

He underwent offseason procedures to stay on top of his game and is fighting through a wrist injury to get off to one of his best starts of his career.

It's proven effective and showed that he put in the time to be elite.

It also shows he has fire that burns inside of him to win that will not be put out until he retires, just like Jordan.

Bryant is averaging 32 points with over five assists and nearly six rebounds per game and is willing the Lakers to another improbable playoff run

He's lost Hall-of-Fame coach Phil Jackson (who also led Jordan to greatness) and has mediocre-at-best teammates besides Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

Kobe is in the unique position to equal Jordan's titles this season, and if he should accomplish this incredible feat, he will inextricably be forever linked with the player that many people consider the Greatest of All Time.