I am not a huge NBA fan but follow it as best as I can. How could I ignore an article that featured a Chicago great and the greatest of all time.
I have a Chicago bias, yes but is Kobe better than Michael Jordan?? When I first read Like Mike, Only Better by Jemele Hill, I was furious and still can't believe that someone would put Kobe on a platform on a platform higher than Jordan. Would this topic even come up if Kobe did not score 50 points in 4 straight games?
I am no NBA expert but here a few thoughts. Points don't make someone the best basketball player, the best players are without a doubt the most transcendent player of the year. Has Kobe Bryant been that much better than other players in the league? There would be no talk of Dirk or Nash to be the MVP over Kobe, if Kobe was is better than MJ. Or does 2 + 2 = 5, in this instance.
Shaq seemed to help the Lakers win championships and I do remember Kobe going scoreless for three quarters in a playoff game a few years ago. MJ never choked and I can remember him having the big men such as Will Perdue, Bill Wennington, Luc Longley, and Bill Cartwright. Almost as good as Shaq
Don't give me that bullshit that MJ did not have any competition because there are more than enough players that were were great at the time of Jordan. 23 was that much better than every player because there was no comparison with what MJ did on the court. If Kobe is better than MJ; 1.) he could win without Shaq 2.) he should have won an MVP by now 3.) he would win more championships 4.) he would better set up his teammates for success (I know Jordan is an asshole but players seemed to play well when around him, don't include his time with the Wizards)
read the article and then we can discuss why this woman is wrong. If you think Kobe is better than MJ, you can blow yourself.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/070326
2 comments:
I knew this would happen one day, but I thought it would only be from an opinion based on ignorance. Like when I argue MJ was better than guys like Dr. J even though I never really saw the guys from the 70s play. But, this lady has SEEN The Greatness himself and STILL thinks Kobe's better. Ridiculous.
Crazy Delish, thank you for addressing this issue. I also read this article and couldn't believe it. I immediately emailed Sports Guy and wanted his take. He only made two points and I feel like there needs to be more discussion on this Kobe v. MJ debate, well it's not even a debate.
1. Whether or not he's been worthy of it, Kobe has NEVER won an MVP award.
2. Hill says that players weren't as good back then as they are now. WHAT? Let's take Jordan's finals performances because that's when defense should be the best. Starting in 91, he was guarded by Magic/Byron Scott, Drexler, Majerle, then Gary Payton, and Byron Russell who was known to be one of the best perimeter defenders in the league at the time. In those 35 finals games he averaged 33.9 ppg.
3. Bryant will never be the defensive player that Jordan was. Jordan is number two on the steals list behind John Stockton. He was an All-Defense 1st team member 9 consecutive years. He had the most points in the league 11 times and won 7 straight (10 straight if you don't count the seasons he was gone).
4. Speaking of the time he was gone, if he had stayed in the league those three years, there wouldn't be a debate ever. He would've won 9 straight nba finals titles, 13 straight scoring titles, etc. He is without a doubt the best guard to ever play the game and Kobe doesn't even come close.
5. If Kobe wants to be considered in this debate than he needs to go to the front office and demand another good player. Jordan had Pippen and a supporting cast that worked by giving him the ball when needed. Kobe then has to lead his team to at least 4 more (preferably straight) titles. In those 4 straight titles, he HAS to win the nba finals MVP. He must score at least 30 ppg in the regular season and help his team win close to 70 wins to show they are not only a dominant team that year but the most dominant team ever, which Jordan is the leader of.
6. The list is truly endless as to the reasons that Kobe isn't even close to Jordan. When his career ends it'll be fun to look at the complete disparity that divides these two.
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