Why Kobe Bryant Falls Way Short of Michael Jordan After 15 Seasons

Now that Kobe Bryant has finished his 15th NBA season, it is a perfect time expose how short he falls of being as good as his childhood idol, Michael Jordan.

Jordan also played in 15 individual seasons (over a 19-year span), and, well, if you think about it, the way Kobe played against Dallas kinda says it all.

But the stats don't lie either. 

The most precise way to measure a player's productivity is per minute. In his 15 seasons, Jordan played 41,010 minutes. Kobe has now played 40,145.

What I did was divide each career total for the main statistics by the minutes each player played.

For instance Kobe grabbed 5,829 rebounds in 40,145 minutes, which equals .145 rebounds per minute for his career. Jordan grabbed 6,672 rebounds in 41,010 minutes, which equals .163 rebounds per minute. 

Next I divided the smaller per-minute stat—for example .145 divided by .163 equals a percentage of .8896.

Then I subtracted the percentage from 1, and that gives you how much of a percentage better per minute for their entire careers one was over the other. 

Yeah, Kobe tried to act and play like MJ, but when you really break it down over that many seasons and minutes, it is the difference between the greatest player ever and the 16th-best NBA player ever.

In this slideshow I go from the two categories Bryant was slightly better at and then work my way up to the biggest differences of all.   

Three-Point Shooting: Kobe Wins by 3.5 Percent

So, you think Kobe was better than Jordan at ANYTHING? Over 15 seasons Kobe has shot 33.9 percent from three-point range, and Jordan finished his career at 32.7 percent from three. 

If you divide 32.7 by 33.9 you get .964. Then you subtract the number one, and Kobe was only 3.5 percent better from three-point range than MJ.

Wow, way to go, Kobe.  

Free-Throw Shooting: Kobe Wins by 0.2 Percent

After 15 seasons Kobe is at 83.7 percent from the line for his career, and MJ finished at 83.5 percent.

That is 0.2 percent better.

And that rounds out the ONLY two areas in which Kobe beat out MJ.

Good stuff, KB. 

Personal Fouls: Jordan Fouled Less by 5.4 Percent

After 15 seasons Kobe has committed 2,886 fouls. Jordan finished with 2,783. This is the closest percentage Bryant came to Jordan from here on. 

Kobe was never a big-time fouler, but he fouled more than MJ did.

Hmm, I wonder why?  

Assists: Jordan Wins by 6.6 Percent

Both shooting guards were passers, too, but Jordan just passed more and made his teammates better than Kobe Bryant has made his (72-10 anyone?).

Kobe has 5,154 assists and MJ recorded 5,633. 

Field Goal Shooting: Jordan Wins by 8.7 Percent

We all know how often Kobe misses. Jordan shot 50 percent for his career.

If you divide 45.4 by 49.7 and then subtract the number one, you will find that Jordan shot 8.7 percent better from the field (including when he was old, with the Wizards, which brought his career FG% under 50.)  

Kobe, you should have shot less... or better.

Rebounding: Jordan Wins by 11 Percent

Kobe has now amassed 5,829 rebs and MJ had 6,672. That is .145 and .163 rebs per minute, respectively.

Remember 1989? Jordan averaged 8.0 rebs, 8.0 assts and 32.5 ppg! Kobe had one assist in his 81-point game. Jordan had seven assists and 18 rebounds in his 69-point game.

Every little thing matters. 

Turnovers: Jordan Turned the Ball over Less by 11.3 Percent

Jordan played point guard in 1989 and had a stretch of 11 straight games with over 10 assists. The great thing is that he didn't turn it over much.

Kobe has turned it over A LOT; he did so especially when we was younger. Whoever thinks Bryant has more handle than MJ did is so wrong.

Jordan had more handle as a passer, and he didn't turn it over much, despite handling the ball alot. 

Total Points Per Minute: Jordan Wins by 11.8 Percent

Wilt scored 100 in a game and averaged 50.4 ppg one season. Kobe scored 81 in a game.

Yet, Michael Jordan finished his career with the highest scoring average in NBA history!

So, in the end, one game is cool, but MJ was the greatest scorer of all time.

Kobe has scored 27,868 points in 15 seasons, and MJ scored 32,292 in the same amount of time. Can you say GOAT?

If Kobe goes on to pass that total number, it would take him so many more games and seasons that it would be a watered-down accomplishment.

Kind of like scoring 81 on the Raptors.  

NBA Championship Titles: Jordan Wins by 16.7 Percent

Jordan has six and Kobe has five. Kobe has lost twice in the Finals. Jordan never even let a Finals series go to seven games.

Six for Six is so SICK!!!

Steals: Jordan Wins by 32.8 Percent!!!

I knew it all along. The stats that Jordan most dominates Kobe cover the most important aspect of all: defense.

Jordan stole 2,514 balls, and Kobe stole 1,658.

I swear I never once saw Kobe play defense in all of 2011. 

Kobe lovers: This is one of the hugest reasons why MJ is the GOAT. Unless you are over 30, you probably do not realize how amazing MJ was on defense. 

Blocked Shots: Jordan Wins by 35.8 Percent!!!

Yep, Kobe fans, read it and weep. MJ was a beast on defense, and KB just isn't and never was. It sets the two WAY apart.

Jordan blocked more shots than any guard in NBA history, with 893. Bryant has blocked only 576 shots. Jordan blocked over 100 shots in a season twice, and he also twice stole over 200 balls and blocked 100 shots in the same season. 

Jordan is just amazing.

NBA fans today, of course, do not see how short KB falls of MJ in terms of defense, but they do now. Did KB even play D against Dallas?  Aw, forget it.  

NBA Finals MVP Awards: Jordan Wins by 66.7 Percent

Yep, at the pinnacle of the game, MJ truly outshone KB, BIG TIME.

Six Finals MVPs to two says it all.

NBA MVP Awards: Jordan Wins by 80 Percent

Jordan is a five-time regular-season MVP winner.

Kobe has one MVP. 

NBA Scoring Titles: Jordan Wins by 80 Percent

Jordan finished his entire career with the highest scoring average in NBA history for the regular season and the playoffs.

Jordan averaged 30.1 points per game for his career. Do you understand that? 

Keep your 81-point game and your two scoring titles. Jordan was way more amazing for so long that one other guy having an 81-point game against the Raptors is nothing to him.

Also, Wilt scored 100 in a game and averaged 50 in one season, but Jordan was consistently the greatest scorer ever. 

Conclusion: MJ Is GOAT, KB Is No. 16 on All-Time List

These are all the ways in which Jordan rules that Kobe fans try and pretend are not true. When they say KB has more skill and as much desire and determination, they are doing exactly what KB always did: They wish!

To wish you could play like MJ is not a bad thing. Kobe tried, and he now knows why MJ is the GOAT.

Jordan never relaxed for one play, and he will not be surpassed by anyone anytime soon.

But I am so so happy that after 2011 vs Dallas, Kobe will never be mentioned in the same sentence as an equal to the greatest player of all time!