Let's stop all of these comparisons. It is not doing anyone any good and those who dare to make the leap (yes I said leap) to put Kobe at Jordan's level is nothing short of asinine.
I'm not trying to make the case that Kobe isn't a great player. He is a great and very dominent player in the NBA. He is not however Jordan.
Check out some of the career stats for both Kobe and Jordan...
Original Story:
http://www.thegoldseat.com/2008/06/03...
Original Story:
http://www.thegoldseat.com/2008/06/03...
EMan100 said June 06, 2008
guttersnype said June 07, 2008
thegoldseat said June 07, 2008
guttersnype replied June 11, 2008
xris_m said September 03, 2008
Judging from the callowness and the non-objective insight and the fact that a player of Bryants magnetude playing with thee most well conditioned athletes in NBA history and dominating the way he has for the past 6 years.
To say that it would be a "leap" is absolutely absurd. Especially when there is absolutely nothing in a game that Jordan has done that Bryant hasnt. ON THE COURT, not in a magazine or the ESPYS, Bryant could do ANYTHING JORDAN COULD. And besides the fact that Bryant recently took his team to the Finals is something Jordan never did without his other HOF player Scottie Pippen, or in Bryants case Shaq.
Scoring wise. Bryant has done things Jordan could only dream of. Against the best Defensive Rated defensive teams and players since the 1970's.
In other words, Bryant did it against better defense. And DRtg or Defensive Rating dont lie. Not 37.1 a game but 35.4 against better defense. Just imagine if Bryant had reckless abandonment the way Jordan played before Jackson, not giving a crap except to score points, screw winning. Screw team and it showed in his 37.1 a game season when it was yet his 3rd LOSING season in a row and once again swept in the 1st Round. When Bryant had his year, it was Phil Jackson who told him to score. They had injuries and needed to win within the confines of the TEAM and they did. 45 and 37 in the Western Conference and a rebound away from the Semis.
Accolade wise- well since Bryant barely turned thirty it would be plain stupid to say Bryant couldnt win as many titles or All NBA Teams or All Defense Teams especially when Bryant is only a few years away from doing it at 30 years old. The Media voter will never get Bryant as many MVPs because that would mean they would have to like the guy so that would probably out of the question as for everything else. Bryant will surpass within the next few years.
Career stat wise. Kobe wasnt a starter until half way through his 3rd season, so the 1st 2 and a half years of stats would cause his numbers to not be as profound. As would the simple fact that Kobe didnt come into the league and his team as the ONLY option. Plus the simple fact that Jordan never had to play with a player as dominant as Shaq for 8 years and yes, Jordan would have had to defer to Shaq. The offense would have went through Shaq. So "stat wise" it would be plain stupid again to compare.
But Jordan did have 5 losing seasons with only ONE playoff win. Thats something that Bryant has never led a team to do. Bryant has only had ONE losing season in his career and has only missed the playoffs ONCE. Even without his fellow Hall of Famer.
To compare accolades is imbecelic since Bryant still has a good 7 years left. But I'm sure Bryant wouldnt mind the compliment especially when his prime is barely starting.
And yes you are right, Kobe is not MJ. Doesnt want to be MJ. He wants to be Kobe Bryant. Kobe always had a jump shot, Jordan had to develop one. MJ could use his hands to guard people, Kobe cant but is yet 3 1st Teams away from tying MJs 9 1st Teams. 3 Championships from tying MJs 6 and it could have been 2 if the Lakers would have been healthy all season. I'm sure it will be cut to 2 after this next season.
But if you still fear Bryant (because why would this blog exist if KB was a non-issue)
Just imagine what you will have to write 10 years from now when Bryant is done and has surpassed everything Jordan has done and might even take Kareems All Time record.
Write now you'll just have to keep comparing a Whole career to Half a career.
I guess using this logic you can say a Whole Jordan is equal to Half a Bryant.