Ask anyone that's 22 years old or younger whose better, and they would probably all say Kobe Bryant. Why? Well, the last impression they saw of Michael Jordan was that with the Washington Wizards, which being well past his prime he still managed to avg 22 ppg. So, with all the comparisons that people make, I decided to breakdown the two players and tell you who the best is.
Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are similar in many ways. They both stand 6 feet 6 inches and play the shooting guard position. They have won multiple championships under the same head coach. Both players have the ability to lead their teams to victory. They have a lot of similarities, but there are also a lot of differences which set the two apart.
When Michael Jordan entered the league many felt he was explosive like that of a Doctor J. However, that was the only comparison the 2 players had. Michael Jordan didn't pattern his game around anyone else. As a matter of fact he brought trends to the game. One of the first athletes to shave his head bald, the bagging shorts, and how could one ever forget the tongue. However, when I see Kobe Bryant I see a spitting image of Michael Jordan. When he interviews, when he walks, when he chews his gum, even when he celebrates the win of the 4th championship he jumps in the air like Michael Jordan. The only thing I see that Kobe does that Michael didn't is the scowl. This only took him 11 years to find on his own.
Whenever you examine the two players look first at fundamentals. Both players are fundamentally sound. However, I give the nod to Michael Jordan in that area. Michael simply hit you with a jab step and based off you reaction that determined his next move. Of the two players Michael Jordan was the more explosive. If anyone has seen "Come Fly with Me" you will see that Michael Jordan dunked on ever one in the league. Even late in his career he went baseline to dunk on Dikembe Mutombo and give him the finger wave. Michael Jordan made a living in the post area with the fade away jumper which as fans we all loved. If you ever watch Kobe Bryant you may sometimes see this same move being made. Therefore, nod in the post game goes to Michael Jordan. The one advantage that Kobe Bryant has over Michael Jordan is range. He can shoot the ball better from deep. To say that Kobe Bryant hit more difficult shots is an example of us living in the present. If you stop and reminisce you will recall, Craig Ehloe, Steve Smith, and no one could forget Bryon Russell (just to name a few) as victims of game winners by Michael Jordan.
I like both players a great deal, however, Michael Jordan played the game with such grace that it looked like he was embarrassing his opponents in slow motion. Simply put he made the game of basketball look easy. Michael Jordan had the ability to capture our attention whether on the floor, golf course, commericals, or just being interviewed. If Michael Jordan was on WGN, you called your friends to make sure they were watching. You stopped running around outside to come sit in front of the TV to witness greatness. I enjoy watching Kobe Bryant and think he is the closest thing we will see to that of Michael Jordan. However, to say that he has surpassed the greatest the game has seen while he is still playing is absurd.
It's hard but it's fair...holla back!!!!
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This is a very good topic. I find myself doubting the skill and commitment to the game that today's players have as opposed to sports legends of the past. Its sometimes hard and maybe even unfair to compare players of a different era. They must be judged against their contemporaries;not figures from the past. Is it fair to compare Dick Butkus to Ray Lewis, Muhammad Ali to Floyd Maywheather, Jim Brown to Ladamian Thomlinson? I think not. The truth is that we will never know. Having said all of that, I think that you are correct in saying that it would not be fitting to make the distinction between Mike and Kobe until Kobe has retired. Personally I see little difference between these two players when you compare them to their contemporaries; not to be compared with players of different eras. If we must compare Micheal Jordan and Kobe Bryant we must also compare the strength of their teamates. We all know that basketball is a team sport. Since both players are skillfully similar, I think we must go a step further and evaluate the strength of the talent around each player in order to make such a judgment -if we must.
"Da Vick"
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