I'm sick and tired of people comparing Kobe to Jordan as if they're even in the same league. They're not even close!

Let's look at some of the stats

Jordan 13 years in the NBA -
5 MVP's
10 scoring titles
3 steals titles (something Kobe will never do)
6 NBA finals MVP's
Defensive player of the year (something kobe will also never do)
Holds highest regular season and playoff scoring average records
6 championships (probably would have been 8 had he not gone on a baseball hiatus)

Kobe - 12 years in the league

1 MVP
2 NBA scoring titles
0 steals titles
0 finals mvp's
0 defensive player of the year
is second in the record books for most points scored in a game.

Michael averaged more in assists, points, steals, blocks & rebounds per game, and that's counting his Wizards years!

Michael never lost in the finals, and he won 6 without teammates the caliber of Shaq or Pau Gassaul. He also won championships against two of the best defensive guards in the history of the NBA Gary "the glove" Payton and John Stockton.

Michael also beat Magic in the finals, IMO the second best player to ever play the game. Kobe does not even belong in the same discussion as Michael. I would also argue that the league was better when Michael was playing as well, but that's mostly a subjective argument.

Wow. I didn't realize that Jordan's stats were so much better. Bryant is a good offensive player but Jordan was just a ridiculous all around stud.

Hengst! I completely agree with you man! Kobe is a great player! But in my opinion I don't even think he is the best player in the nba! In my opinion the best player in the nba when healthy is Dwyane Wade! He hasn't been completely healthy in the last two years. But when he is look at out nba! I am kind of bias! But look what he did two years ago in the finals almost single handily beat the mavericks in six games winning four straight!
I know a lot of you won't agree with me! You'll say well he had Shaq! But an older Shaq! In the finals shaq only averaged only just over 13 points a game! And flash averaged just under 35 points a game! He dominated especially the last four games! He was a so clutch! Whereas Kobe as Hengst as said he has never won finals mvp Shaq won all three finals mvp with the lakers. and he won't win it this year either. That honor is going to go to paul pierce! Celtics big three are simply better then Lakers big three. Celtics in six! Go celts! BEAT LA! BEAT LA! BEAT LA!

Hengst wrote:

I'm sick and tired of people comparing Kobe to Jordan as if they're even in the same league. They're not even close!

Let's look at some of the stats

Jordan 13 years in the NBA -
5 MVP's
10 scoring titles
3 steals titles (something Kobe will never do)
6 NBA finals MVP's
Defensive player of the year (something kobe will also never do)
Holds highest regular season and playoff scoring average records
6 championships (probably would have been 8 had he not gone on a baseball hiatus)

Kobe - 12 years in the league

1 MVP
2 NBA scoring titles
0 steals titles
0 finals mvp's
0 defensive player of the year
is second in the record books for most points scored in a game.

Michael averaged more in assists, points, steals, blocks & rebounds per game, and that's counting his Wizards years!

Michael never lost in the finals, and he won 6 without teammates the caliber of Shaq or Pau Gassaul. He also won championships against two of the best defensive guards in the history of the NBA Gary "the glove" Payton and John Stockton.

Michael also beat Magic in the finals, IMO the second best player to ever play the game. Kobe does not even belong in the same discussion as Michael. I would also argue that the league was better when Michael was playing as well, but that's mostly a subjective argument.

I agree with everything except one point: As much as I love Magic Johnson, I don't think he is the 2nd best player ever. I don't even believe he was the best Laker ever. Kareem Abdul-Jabar does not get near enough credit. No one has scored more points. He has more blocked shots than Chamberlain or Russell. And unlike those two, he dominated on skill and technique, not just size and strength against much smaller competition. Kareem's "sky hook" was the most unstoppable clutch move in history. Magic never won a title without him. Granted that he played a very long time, but I think longevity is also a very important part of "best players in history arguments.

While I don't disagree that MJ and Magic are better players than Kobe, it's closer than you think and worthy of at bare minimum a fair unbiased argument. It's probably more fair to judge them by age 30 so far since Kobe isn't quite 30 yet and Michael 1st retired at 30.
Again, the winner in this argument is MJ but it's somewhat close; and while winning NBA finals is important, I wouldnt' say that the argument of best 4 ever isn't close because Duncan has rings and Karl Malone has none. That being said, Kobe might end up with more rings at age 30 than MJ if the Lakers win this year- and with Gasol, Odom, Bynum, Farmar etc. this team could win a few more before it's all said and done.

Kobe - at age 30
07-08 MVP
10-time NBA All-Star
8-time All-Defensive Selection
3-time NBA Champion
2-time NBA All-Star MVP
2-time NBA Scoring Champion
1997 NBA Slam Dunk
3 rings at age 30 maybe a 4th this year

Kobe Bryant holds four and shares five NBA records:

Most three-point field goals made, one game: 12
Most three-point field goals made, one half: 8
Most consecutive three-point field goals made, one game: 9
Most free throws made, one quarter: 14
Most free throws attempted, one quarter: 16
Youngest player to score 15,000 points: (27 Years, 136 days)
Youngest player to score 20,000 points: (29 years, 122 days old), surpassing Wilt Chamberlain, the previous holder of the record. Bryant also became one of the only three players to reach the milestone under the age of 30. The other two are Chamberlain (29 years, 134 days old) and Michael Jordan (29 years, 326 days old).[44] Youngest Slam Dunk champion: (18 years, 175 days), after winning the contest at the 1997 NBA All-Star Weekend.
Youngest player to be named to the NBA All-Defensive Team: (1999-00 NBA season)[45]
Youngest player to start a game: (18 Years, 158 days)

Has the 2nd highest scoring game in NBA history - 81 (surpassing every high scoring game of Jordan)

Michael - at age 30
3 -time MVP
5 -time all defensive selection
1 -time defensive mvp
8 -time NBA all star
2 time slam dunk champ
3 rings at age 30

Better than MJ? No, worthy of the conversation? Yeah

Gymcoug318 wrote:

Hengst! I completely agree with you man! Kobe is a great player! But in my opinion I don't even think he is the best player in the nba! In my opinion the best player in the nba when healthy is Dwyane Wade! He hasn't been completely healthy in the last two years. But when he is look at out nba! I am kind of bias! But look what he did two years ago in the finals almost single handily beat the mavericks in six games winning four straight!
I know a lot of you won't agree with me! You'll say well he had Shaq! But an older Shaq! In the finals shaq only averaged only just over 13 points a game! And flash averaged just under 35 points a game! He dominated especially the last four games! He was a so clutch! Whereas Kobe as Hengst as said he has never won finals mvp Shaq won all three finals mvp with the lakers. and he won't win it this year either. That honor is going to go to paul pierce! Celtics big three are simply better then Lakers big three. Celtics in six! Go celts! BEAT LA! BEAT LA! BEAT LA!

Hmm, if I was going to start a team and I could take any NBA player I would take Labron I think his all around game is better than kobe's even if Kobe's offense is better. If the argument was between Kobe and Dwane Wade that's a tough question. I might just end up going with Kobe because Dwayne has a hard time staying healthy as of late. Take that out of the equation and Wade definitely has more upside considering his relative youth.