Barstool Debate: Does Kobe Bryant Compare to Michael Jordan?

Skill-wise, Kobe Bryant is (probably) the best player in the NBA, and since he's won a few championships and plays shooting guard, the comparisons to His Airness are inevitable.

But has Kobe done enough in his career to deserve to be compared to MJ? John Paulsen and Anthony Stalter discuss this very topic in this week's Barstool Debate.

John: I don't know that there is anyone that truly compares to Jordan, even Kobe. They do have several similarities. Both are phenomenal all-around athletes. They're both fierce competitors. But there's something that sets Jordan apart. MJ won six rings and was the main guy for all of those championships. Kobe was Shaq's sidekick during the Lakers' three-peat, and while he was (and is) a great player, he was not the main reason that L.A. won those titles. He certainly made a big contribution, much in the same way Scottie Pippen contributed to the Bulls' championships, but without Shaq, those Laker teams weren't going anywhere. However, if Kobe and his Lakers can win a title this year, it will help his case. I think he needs to win two or three more rings as the lead guy in order for us to have a real debate about who is the better player.

Anthony: I don't know if it's fair to compare the two with Kobe still being an active player...

(Read the rest of the debate after the jump.)

18 Comments On: "Barstool Debate: Does Kobe Bryant Compare to Michael Jordan?"

 
Kobe says no, I say no. Besides, there's one thing MJ didn't do in the Finals that Kobe's about to do twice. Lose.

nope

Not even close. The best player since Jordan was Shaq, and now Shaq is older and has lost his dominance. Kobe is just a really good shooting guard.

hes the best in the league now but no where near MJ, he doesnt have 5 mvp's and hasnt shown up in the finals like michael with 6 finals mvps, kobe has none

It's really not even comparable. The league is so different now. It caters so much to the offensive player now with the hand check rules. Back then when you took the ball to the rack you would get head taken off now if you breathe on someone with bad breath they give you a flagrent. So please stop coparing these two.

These are the two best shooting guards in the modern era of basketball. Of course there are going to be comparisons.

I agree but it's still not even close. MJ would of never, i repeat NEVER allowed his team to lose a 24 point lead. Plus the game was SO DIFFERENT then. Kobe would have enough tears to last after the 1st time he went to the rack and Lambeer, Barkley, Rodman, or Kareem fouled him.

Wow, I state a fact and I get a negative point.

I guess you're referring to hard fouls, but the big change in eras is before and after the hand check, and the no-hand check rule was only implemented a few years ago. Kobe's been playing for 12.

I can't believe I'm arguing on Kobe's behalf...

Debating Kobe is like debating politics. You end up nowhere and you end up with a headache in the end.

NO!!!

If Kobe was really as good as MJ, there would be no 'debate'. There was no debate when MJ was playing. People knew he was the best. Nobody wondered if Shaq was great or Wilt was great. Nobody debated because it was obvious. A better debate is whether Kobe is better than, say Isaiah Thomas or Dominique Wilkins. But if he was really as good as MJ, everybody would know it already.

By your logic there would be no debates because everything would be known.

That doesn't even begin to make sense. I will be more clear: SOME things are known simply by their sheer obviousness.

"That doesn't even begin to make sense."

Exactly. That's my point.

Kobe will never be better than Jordan. Jordan didn't choke in the finals or show fear like Kobe has. Jordan played with composure under the highest pressure situations. He would never look around with out the answers or let a team going on a run take the life out of his game. Jordan was the greatest basketball player and his attitude and mentality are so far ahead of Kobe's, as well as on the court accomplishments. Jordan didn't have Shaq carry him to 3 titles either.

If Kobe wins a title, then he's closer to erasing doubts about whether he's better or not, but for now, he's not there. He really hasn't done that well in this finals series.

kobe will never be michael jordan, jordan in conjunt with the bulls never lost by 39 point in nba finals

i believe that kobe bryant is the best player in the nba and he can compare to micheal jordan. micheal jordan was ahead of his time and most of the players he played against were no where near on his level. in kobe bryants generation there are many more athelitic players such as lebron james and kobe actually has competition to go up against. yes micheal jordan does has six rings but without scotti pippin it wouldnt have been possible, and it's the same situation with shaq and kobe. shaq couldnt have done it without kobe and micheal couldnt have done it without scotti, kobe is the best!

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