Los Angeles Lakers: How Kobe Bryant's Age Is Important to Michael Jordan Debate
Kobe Bryant versus Michael Jordan debates in regards to pure talent and stats have been ensuing for over decade, yet not not too much headway has been made as to who is the better player.
Some say Jordan, while others say Kobe, and after all this time, evident by the fact that it is still a hot debate, we do not have a clear winner.
We all know how important Jordan was to the Chicago Bulls. He led them to three NBA titles between 1991 and 1993, and then three more spanning from 1996 to '98. Though the Bulls were still a playoff-caliber team without Jordan, a championship only became within reach when he was on the court.
Kobe has been arguably as important to the Los Angeles Lakers' success. The team has won five NBA titles with Bryant, including a three-peat between 2000 and 2002. Shaquille O'Neal proved to be a large part of Los Angeles' success as well, though once the Lakers traded him to the Miami Heat, it became clear it was Kobe's show.
Jordan is a career 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game player, while Kobe has put up similar numbers, averaging 25.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists to date.
The above information is important, yet it is virtually irrelevant for the sake of this discussion. Sure, the number of titles and roles played in said championship runs is relevant, but stats alone will not help us decide who was or is the better player and more integral part of their organization.
How will we know then?
By analyzing what becomes of Kobe as he begins his steady decline into retirement. Like it or not, Bryant is approaching 33, and his days as a high-octane, accolade-producing shooting guard are numbered.
And it is this not-so-far-off decline of Kobe that may settle our debate once and for all.
How will the Lakers handle Kobe's decreased production and disappearing abilities? Will they ever send him to the bench? Would Los Angeles, dare I say it, ever consider trading Bryant?
Laugh now, but we have seen it before with aging franchise players, like in 2000, when the New York Knicks traded Hall-of-Famer Patrick Ewing. Bryant's legacy may be far greater than players like Ewing, but is it enough to keep him in purple and gold as long as he pleases?
Jordan retired from the Bulls before his career hit such a juncture, but it is doubtful Kobe will do the same. Barring a significant injury, do we really see Bryant retiring in the next two years?
Probably not.
This isn't a whole Jordan retired while on top bit because he did make a second comeback with the Washington Wizards a few years after retiring from Chicago for the last time. It's just pointing out that Kobe is entering territory that Jordan never saw or never gave himself the chance to see.
Even when Jordan retired for the third, and what we think is the final time, he averaged 20 points per game that final season. It is unclear though whether Kobe will be retiring under similar circumstances.
Will Kobe retire while still a valued starter for Los Angeles?
Is he capable of overstaying his welcome with the Lakers?
Will Bryant be able to retire on his own terms?
Who knows.
What we do know is that the way a player goes out can be just as important to their legacy as their on-court accomplishments. Should Kobe play until he finds his production slip to that of a role or bench player, or overstays his welcome in Los Angeles to the point that the Lakers ever consider trading him, his legacy will be tarnished to a certain degree.
And the Jordan versus Kobe debate will cease to exist.
