The Kobe/LeBron/MJ Debate: I Pick Kobe and Here Is Why

Kobe Bryant passed Jerry West as the Lakers all-time leading scorer and the debate began about where to rank Kobe among the greats. Magic Johnson could play all five positions if he wanted to and could play them all at a high level. He has five rings. He had great rivals in the West, but his rivalry with Larry Bird still resonates to this day. Michael Jordan was the best player the NBA has ever seen. Six rings. Jordan also kept Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, and John Stockton from winning any rings. Jordan also changed the game from a tall man's game to a slasher's game, and the league still has not changed back. JT the Brick was projecting Kobe's career stats on his interactive radio show and wondered what would it take for Kobe Bryant to be known as the best Laker and player ever. With a ring this year, he would have five like Magic, plus he has more points than Magic. Kobe also has a chance to score over 40,000 points. He might not pass MJ in rings but he will have more points if he keeps his pace up. Kobe and MJ are similar players, so there is a discussion here. Projecting stats is risky because of what might happen in regard to injuries, lawsuits, free agent moves, and early retirements. Kobe is the best player of his era and it is not even close. LeBron James is distracted by off the court things and has not even won a title. Kobe chose to not opt out of his contract and stay a Laker because he is all about winning. LeBron is not all about winning, he is all about LeBron. He does the "look at me" dance. He is in a great situation in Cleveland, but wants to keep his options open. Kobe is going to do it all for one team, whereas LeBron might chase global iconism and playoff frustration in New York next year. As a Cleveland fan, I hope LeBron stays, but hope and Cleveland have never been very good together. We hoped Jose Mesa could save Game Seven in 1997 and hoped that Ernest Byner could hold onto the ball in 1987, and hoped the Dawgs could make a stop in 1986 and then hoped for Brian Sipe to not throw a pick in 1980. Projecting stats, as I said earlier, is a risky proposition. We could project Kevin Durant to be the best player in the NBA as of right now but it really doesn't mean anything.   I always think about how dynamic Grant Hill was when he came out of Duke and how injuries robbed him of what could have been an epic career. Kobe is strong in body and mind. It is what makes him the best. He would not quit the game to go after a baseball career. He would not opt out of his contract to become a global icon. This might be the best era of basketball we have ever seen when you think about the caliber of athlete that now plays the game, and Kobe Bryant is the best player of this era. He has as many rings as Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan. He will end up with more points than both of them and has a better all-around game than both of them. LeBron James might end up with better stats than Kobe Bryant, so this is a fluid debate. Kobe will have done it with one team, though, and we still don't know what LeBron will do with his immense talent and bright future. Projecting stats is risky, but if LeBron does stay in Cleveland, that franchise has shown a willingness to do what it takes to build a great team around him. As of this moment, with his body of work, Kobe Bryant is the best player I have ever seen play the game. Michael Jordan might have won eight-straight rings, but he quit in his prime. LeBron James might be on the verge of a dynasty but, he is leaving his options open. Kobe would not quit in is prime and he has not left the great situation he has in LA.  So there is my argument for Kobe Bryant. I take into account what he has already done and I also project where he is headed. What he has already done is better than LeBron James and where he is headed might take him past Michael Jordan.