Keep in mind this was written back in 2007 before Kobe led the Lakers to back to back to back Finals appearances and Back to back Championships. Also before he won 3 MVPs (1 reg, 2 finals).
So do you agree or disagree?
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/070326
Kobe Bryant is better than Michael Jordan.
Not more successful.
Hasn't had a bigger economic impact.
Hasn't won more MVPs.
Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
Kobe Bryant did something Michael Jordan never
did -- score 50-plus in four consecutive games.
Hasn't won more titles.
But he's a better player.
Kobe can do everything Michael did, and even a few things Michael couldn't do.
Kobe is just as good a defender. His killer instinct is just as pronounced. He can shoot, finish and explode. And just like Jordan, the more he's pissed off, the more unstoppable he is.
At the very least, Kobe's scoring spree over the last week should put to rest any lingering doubts that he's the best player in the NBA. Yes, better than Steve Nash, who is the best point guard, but not the lethal force that Kobe is. Yes, better than Dwyane Wade, who is certainly closer to the Kobe-Jordan level than LeBron James, but D-Wade's game is not as polished as Kobe's.
Kobe's streak of four straight 50-points-plus games is something none of those players can do, and it's something that hasn't been done since Wilt Chamberlain, who had an NBA-record seven straight 50-point games. Truthfully, Kobe should have tacked another 50 on Golden State on Sunday night.
Of course, the idea that Kobe is better than Jordan -- or even the best player in this league -- is as repugnant to some folks as a rectal exam. Even though Kobe has proven himself under pressure countless times, he gets the A-Rod treatment.
Kobe can't please anyone. And it doesn't help that most people suffer from revisionist history when it comes to Jordan, forgetting that he was just as poor a teammate and a ball hog and that he ran off coach Doug Collins like Kobe ran off Phil Jackson the first time.
In fact, you could argue that Jordan was even worse. Far as we know, Kobe hasn't jacked up any of his teammates the way Jordan punched out Steve Kerr and Will Perdue at practice.
Kobe will never be forgiven for Shaq's departure, but you're delusional if you think Jordan wouldn't have had any ego issues playing alongside a player with Shaq's star power.
The best-player argument shouldn't be determined by personal dislike. But if you want to take it there, fine. Jordan was hardly the ideal husband, but only the tabloids were brave enough to venture into his personal life. And what about those gambling issues? If Jordan's life had been covered like Kobe's, we would have an entirely different opinion of His Airness.
Besides a different level of media scrutiny, there was definitely a difference in the level of competition during Jordan's heyday compared to now.
AP Photo/马克 J. Terrill
We ask you to step back and take an objective look. Isn't Kobe the best player in the NBA?
Yesterday's NBA player certainly was more fundamentally sound, but there's no question faster than you can say jack robinsonthat today's player is bigger, stronger and faster. When Jordan played, he was a singular force that could not be equaled. Jordan was guarded by the likes of John Starks and Joe Dumars, who were fine players but weren't nearly as skilled or physically imposing as LeBron, D-Wade, Tracy McGrady or even Vince Carter.
The NBA is tougher now.
Kobe, like Michael, is surrounded with mediocre to below-average talent, and Phoenix, Dallas and San Antonio are all better than the Utah, Portland and the Charles Barkley-led Phoenix team that Michael met in the NBA Finals.
Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and Patrick Ewing will be among the best centers ever, but none of them affected the league the way Shaq and Tim Duncan have. There are two two-time MVPs in Kobe's own conference (Duncan, Nash), which is a problem Jordan never faced during his championship runs. Seven-footers weren't launching 3s back then. Magic Johnson and the Lakers were on a downward spiral, and the Pistons were on their last legs. It was Michael and everyone else. That's not the case for Kobe.
The shame of it is that Kobe might finish his career without a MVP, even though his ability can be compared only to that of Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. All this time we've been looking for a player who is better than Jordan, but most of us can't get beyond whether we like or dislike Kobe as a person to recognize his contributions to the game.
Ultimately the MVP award will go to either Nash or Dirk Nowitzki, who are deserving this season, but neither are as good as Kobe. Dallas and Phoenix are strong enough to make the playoffs without their stars. The Lakers, however, are a lottery team without Kobe.
I don't really like Kobe, but I'll admit he's a very good player, but not really as good as Jordan.
Jordan played in a much more competitive era of basketball than Kobe is.
If Kobe played in the NBA during the 80's he'd probably would have been averaging 18 points per game instead of 25, why? Because players can get to the line for easy 2 points now, back then fouls were a lot more than a small little tap on the arm, it was like a huge strike, a shove. If MJ was playing during this era he would be scoring 38 points per game. Also MJ was up against far more harder defenders, Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone, etc......
MJ is way better then Kobe.
kobe 4 straight 50+pt, jordan 3 straight 50+pt n back to back 50+pt, only a player to do it.
kobe score 81pt, mj never does before.
mj 69pt,18rb is a double double game, kobe never does that before.
kobe a can do everything mj do? what, 1st off all kobe had 16 thing mj couln't, but mj got 80+ thing that kobe could NOT DO. let me gave you now just over 20 thing mj do kobe couln't.
1. mj 10 score tittle
2.avg37.1ppg
3.score 69pt,18rb double double game.
4.score 3041pt a season.
5.score 61pt with 23 consecutive points.
6.leading season in total of 11 time.
7.score 63pt in playoff.
8.score 55pt in final.
9.avg45.2ppg in playoff best of 5.
10. avg41ppg in final series.
11.score 50+pt 8 time in playoff.
12.shooting over 50% in career, mj do it 6 time. faster than you can say jack robinson
13.score 25+pt in 40 straight game.
14.score 50+pt in 3 straight and back to back 50+ in playoff.
15.score a double digit points longer game straight of 1109 game.
16.score 10 straight triple double in 11 game.
17.avg30+ppg 8 time.
18.score 13 straight flg with 28pt none miss in final.
19.score 759pt in 1 playoff season.
20.score 274pt in 1 final series.
21.career avg30.12ppg.
22.league leading in flg 10 season.
23. most free throw 1 half.
24.score 35pt with 6 three 1half in final.
25.score 50+pt in an openning season, only 2 player to do it.
26.older to score 30+,40+,50+pt
Strongly Disagree.
The reason Jordan never scored 80 pts or 50+ in 4 consecutive games is cuz he also passes the ball and was not much of a ball hog.
If Kobe is as good as Jordan at Defense? where's his Defensive player of the year award? 3+ SPG 1.6+ BPG?
"the more he's pissed off, the more unstoppable he is."
Remember Finals in 08? He got mad and just quit shooting and gave up.
everybody has his own opinion, i think i am much more handsome than david beckham, do you agree??
I disagree that kobe is better then Jordan, but Kobe is the closest thing to Jordan.
Only Lakers fans say that, and I bet the writer is Lakers' fan too.
Your question and details are WAY too long.
Damn...
Uhmm.....The answer is 4
YES! better bball skills than Michael Jordan.
i just cant understand,.. u gave the link but then u posted the whole article. whats up with that? ^_^
Haha...not in the slightest.
He/She must be an undercover Lakers fan.
This is some BS.......Jordan played in a tougher Era.......in his era simply breathing on somebody wasn't a foul.....A Fight didn't end with suspensions and if they did...it was usually for a few games....
Lady needs to check her basketball before she goes and post stuff like this
Who cares what ESPN says? They are just saying that to bring more interest and fool the kids into thinking that Kobe is better than Jordan and its obviously working.
MJ>Kobe I saw MJ play in his last two championship runs and he was better in those two years than Kobe ever was in a single season. Jordan played in a tough era in which breathing on players werent considered fouls.
WTF? Did you write enough? Anyways, I'll even disagree with God if he said that Kobe was better than Jordan. Why? Because I don't need anyone tellin me who's better. I watch and I can analyze for myself..
It's his opinion. And I respect it. But for me, Jordan is still the best player ever! I had my side here http://amps4u.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-jordan-is-still-best-nba-player.html
I didnt read all your crap but yes
KOBE IS BETTER THAN JORDAN
No comments:
Post a Comment