Kobe Bryant: Can He Surpass Jordan and Will He Ever Do It?

While Kobe Bryant has surpassed Jerry West as the Lakers' all-time scoring leader, the majority of experts seem to agree that Kobe is not the greatest player of all time.  He may not even be the greatest Laker of all time, as most would give that title to Magic Johnson.

However, at 31, Bryant is still playing at a very high level.  He has added new dimensions to his game, such as a post game that may add some more time to his prime years.  This means that Bryant still has time to catch up to Magic and, dare I say, Michael Jordan.

At 25,213 points and counting, Bryant is already a top-10 player, a league MVP, a finals MVP, and a four-time champion—including a title with a brand new Laker squad that did not include Shaquille O’Neal. So what holds him back from being the greatest of all time and surpassing Michael Jordan? What does Bryant need?

Bryant currently has four titles and is gunning for a fifth, and possibly sixth.

The Lakers currently stand as the odds-on favorites to repeat as NBA champions this year, and maybe even next year. As I mentioned, Bryant is still playing at a top level, Gasol got his extension, and Bynum is still young and getting better by the dribble.  The Lakers seem well set up for a potential dynasty.

Bryant would need two more titles to tie Jordan in that category, but Jordan was the MVP for all six of those titles—something Bryant cannot say.  However, Bryant winning possibly three titles with a rebuilt Laker squad, to me, is just as impressive.

Their stats are very similar.

Jordan's career scoring average sits at 30, while Bryant's is at 25. Jordan averaged six rebounds and five assists, while Bryant is averaging five rebounds and just under five assists.

Bryant sits about 7,000 points behind Jordan in the all-time scoring list.  In order to get more consideration as the greatest of all time, Kobe would certainly have to pass Jordan's and Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s marks to become the all-time leader.

As for playoff stats, Jordan has the highest per game scoring average by any player in the playoffs at 33, while Braynt is right at 25 points per game.

In order for Bryant to pass Jordan and be considered the greatest player of all time, he would certainly have to at least match Jordan’s six titles, he would have to break the scoring record and solidify himself as the best player on those championship teams, and he would probably have to win at least one more MVP.

Now the big question is: Will he ever get there? 

I think he can. Like I stated earlier, the way Bryant is playing, there seems to be no stop in sight, despite some heavy mileage on those legs. Pau Gasol is signed long term. Andrew Bynum is still young and getting better, and he’s under contract long term. Mix and match your Odoms, Artests, Farmars, and Fishers to create a nice group of role players, and it seems that the Lakers are well set up for a potential three-peat.

As for the individual aspect of it, Bryant is sitting at over 25,000 points—about 7,000 behind Jordan. At Bryant's current pace, he has a very good chance to surpass Jordan and maybe even break Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s all-time scoring record.

As for the side I haven’t touched on yet, the intangibles, I believe Bryant has matched Jordan in that category.

Bryant is a ruthless winner who takes the court with an assassin-like mentality—just like Jordan did. He could miss six shots, come back in the fourth quarter, and make eight in a row—just like Jordan.

Both are true leaders who are hungry for more.

Despite winning four championships, including the Shaq-less fourth title, Bryant still had more to accomplish.  This is why he spent the summer working on a brand new post game with Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon.  Both are masters of necessity—never satisfied with the present.

Another aspect of Bryant’s game that people seem to overlook is that this guy shows up to work all 82 games.  This guy does not call in sick—plays hurt just like Jordan did. Bryant has played 82 games for the past two seasons, plus the playoffs, and has played in every game this season as well.

While Bryant still has some ways to go, I think that, if he can accomplish all the above, he will be considered the greatest of all time.  However, only time will tell.