Before we look at the comparison, remember Kobe's defensive competition is far weaker than Jordan's era, and Kobe's assists and scoring are inflated. And the myth that Jordan never faced zone is also false, and we saw a 40-year old MJ expose the weak defenses of Kobe's era.
Considering all these advantages, Kobe should have accomplished more, right? We will see. Also, remember that overall career stats do not prove anything. Mark Jackson has more all time assists than Gary Payton, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, and Isiah Thomas. That doesn't mean he's a better passer. Karl Malone has scored more points than Jordan. That doesn't mean he's a better scorer.
Now, let's see how the "next Jordan" compares with the original.
Full, healthy seasons as a starter
Jordan - 11 with the Bulls
Finals MVPs
Jordan - 6
Kobe - 2
Steals titles
Jordan - 3
Kobe - 0
Scoring titles
Jordan - 10
Kobe - 2
DPOY
It is also much easier to make the all-defensive team in Kobe's era
Jordan - 41.0 (1993)
Kobe - 32.4 (2009)
Most RPG in an NBA Finals
Jordan - 8.5 (1993)
Kobe - 8.0 (2010)
Most APG in an NBA Finals
Jordan - 11.4 (1991)
Kobe - 7.4 (2009)
Most SPG in an NBA Finals
Jordan - 2.8 (1991)
Kobe - 2.7 (2008)
Most BPG in an NBA Finals
Jordan - 1.4 (1991)
Kobe - 1.4 (2000, 2001, and 2009)
Highest FG% in an NBA Finals
Jordan - 55.6% (1991)
Kobe - 51.4% (2002)
Least PPG in an NBA Finals
Jordan - 27.3 (1996)
Kobe - 19.0 (2000) - Game 2 where Kobe was injured and left after 9 minutes was not counted
Kobe - 22.6 (2004) - in case people want to use the excuse that Kobe was inexperienced in 2000
Lowest FG% in an NBA Finals
Jordan - 41.5% (1996)
Kobe - 36.7% (2000) - Game 2 where Kobe was injured and left after 9 minutes was not counted
Kobe - 38.1% (2004) - in case people want to use the excuse that Kobe was inexperienced in 2000
Kobe has shot 41.5% or less in 5/7 NBA Finals
Seasons shooting 50% or more
Jordan - 6
Kobe - 0
Playoff series averaging 40+ ppg
Jordan - 5
Playoff runs with 30+ PPG
Jordan - 12
Kobe - 5
Playoff runs with more than 8 APG
Jordan - 2
Kobe - 0
Jordan won all 6 championships as the clear best player on his team. Kobe won his last 2 championships as the clear best player, and you can argue that Kobe was the best player in the 2001 Playoffs (not Finals alone). In 2002, Shaq was slightly better and clearly better in 2000. Kobe was only the best player on at most 3 rings.
Jordan beat 2 60+ win teams in the 1993, 1996, and 1997 Playoffs as well as one more 60+ win team in 1998. Kobe has only beaten one 60+ win team in his entire playoff career as a starter, even if you adjust 1999 and 2012 lockout teams for 82 games. He beat the 2002 Kings with their 2nd-leading scorer Peja Stojakovic (21 ppg on 48%) injured and missing most of the series. The 7 60+ win teams that the Bulls beat in the 90s is a record for any franchise in one decade.
In 15 full seasons as a starter, Kobe has 21 triple doubles. When Jordan was forced to change his role due to a teammate's injury, he had to play the role of point guard. Jordan had 10 triple doubles in only 11 games in the 1988/89 season.
Kobe has shot higher than 50% for only 1 NBA Finals series. Jordan did that 3 times.
The lowest FG% that Jordan had in an NBA Finals series was 41.5% in 1996, going against DPOY Gary Payton. Kobe has shot 41.5% or lower in all but two NBA Finals series (2002 and 2009)
Kobe has one 40 point game in all 7 NBA Finals, on 47.1%. Jordan averaged 41.0 ppg on 50.8% for the entire 1993 Finals alone.
Kobe averaged 22.6 ppg in the entire 2004 Finals. Jordan never scored lower than 22 points in a single NBA Finals game.
In all 7 NBA Finals, there is only one time that Kobe hit a game tying shot with under 30 seconds left, in Game 2 against the 2004 Pistons. He has never had a go-ahead game winning shot or assist with under 30 seconds left in an NBA Finals game.
Jordan hit the game-tying shot in Game 3 of the 1991 Finals
Jordan hit the go-ahead game winner in Game 1 of the 1997 Finals.
And what does Kobe himself have to say about the 80s/90s? -
"Playing the game back then required much more skill"
Kobe is not a copy of Jordan. He is inferior.
More
SECTION 3 - Jordan's "Weak" Defensive Competition Compared to Lebron/Kobe's "Advanced" Competition
- Proving the vast superiority of individual defenders of Jordan's era compared to the 2000s
Full, healthy seasons as a starter
Jordan - 11 with the Bulls
Kobe - 15
Championships
Jordan - 6
Kobe - 5
MVPs
Jordan - 5
Kobe - 1, deserved 3 at most
Jordan - 6
Kobe - 5
MVPs
Jordan - 5
Kobe - 1, deserved 3 at most
Finals MVPs
Jordan - 6
Kobe - 2
Steals titles
Jordan - 3
Kobe - 0
Scoring titles
Jordan - 10
Kobe - 2
DPOY
Jordan - 1
Kobe - 0
All Defensive First Team
Jordan - 9
Kobe - 9
Kobe - 0
All Defensive First Team
Jordan - 9
Kobe - 9
It is also much easier to make the all-defensive team in Kobe's era
- A past prime Gary Payton continued to make the team in his mid-30s even after the anti-defensive rule changes.
- Also, a prime Cliff Robinson never made one defensive team in the stacked 90s era. But when the watered down 2000s came along, the defense quality was so low that Robinson at age 33 and 35 past his prime made the defensive team despite the anti-defensive rule changes.
Jordan - 41.0 (1993)
Kobe - 32.4 (2009)
Most RPG in an NBA Finals
Jordan - 8.5 (1993)
Kobe - 8.0 (2010)
Most APG in an NBA Finals
Jordan - 11.4 (1991)
Kobe - 7.4 (2009)
Most SPG in an NBA Finals
Jordan - 2.8 (1991)
Kobe - 2.7 (2008)
Most BPG in an NBA Finals
Jordan - 1.4 (1991)
Kobe - 1.4 (2000, 2001, and 2009)
Highest FG% in an NBA Finals
Jordan - 55.6% (1991)
Kobe - 51.4% (2002)
Least PPG in an NBA Finals
Jordan - 27.3 (1996)
Kobe - 19.0 (2000) - Game 2 where Kobe was injured and left after 9 minutes was not counted
Kobe - 22.6 (2004) - in case people want to use the excuse that Kobe was inexperienced in 2000
Lowest FG% in an NBA Finals
Jordan - 41.5% (1996)
Kobe - 36.7% (2000) - Game 2 where Kobe was injured and left after 9 minutes was not counted
Kobe - 38.1% (2004) - in case people want to use the excuse that Kobe was inexperienced in 2000
Kobe has shot 41.5% or less in 5/7 NBA Finals
Seasons shooting 50% or more
Jordan - 6
Kobe - 0
Playoff series averaging 40+ ppg
Jordan - 5
- 0.2 ppg short of 6 series with 40+ ppg in 1989 vs the Cavs
- Jordan is the only player in history with multiple 40+ ppg playoff series
Playoff runs with 30+ PPG
Jordan - 12
Kobe - 5
Playoff runs with more than 8 APG
Jordan - 2
Kobe - 0
Jordan won all 6 championships as the clear best player on his team. Kobe won his last 2 championships as the clear best player, and you can argue that Kobe was the best player in the 2001 Playoffs (not Finals alone). In 2002, Shaq was slightly better and clearly better in 2000. Kobe was only the best player on at most 3 rings.
Jordan beat 2 60+ win teams in the 1993, 1996, and 1997 Playoffs as well as one more 60+ win team in 1998. Kobe has only beaten one 60+ win team in his entire playoff career as a starter, even if you adjust 1999 and 2012 lockout teams for 82 games. He beat the 2002 Kings with their 2nd-leading scorer Peja Stojakovic (21 ppg on 48%) injured and missing most of the series. The 7 60+ win teams that the Bulls beat in the 90s is a record for any franchise in one decade.
In 15 full seasons as a starter, Kobe has 21 triple doubles. When Jordan was forced to change his role due to a teammate's injury, he had to play the role of point guard. Jordan had 10 triple doubles in only 11 games in the 1988/89 season.
Jordan's lowest FG% in a playoff series was 38.7% against the 1997 Heat. That was the only time Jordan shot lower than 40% in a playoff series, and he still had 30-8-4-2-1 on 43% in the 4 wins. Kobe shot under 40% in both the 2000 (37% in 4 full games) and 2004 NBA Finals (38%), and they were both lower FG% than Jordan's lowest.
Jordan won Defensive Player Of the Year in the hardest defensive era of basketball. Kobe has not won DPOY in the weakest defensive era of basketball since the Chamberlain/Russell era.
Jordan averaged more than 31 pts in 5 out of 6 NBA Finals, and shot better than 50% 3 times in the Finals. Kobe has had less than 30 ppg in 6 out of 7 NBA Finals.
Jordan won Defensive Player Of the Year in the hardest defensive era of basketball. Kobe has not won DPOY in the weakest defensive era of basketball since the Chamberlain/Russell era.
Jordan averaged more than 31 pts in 5 out of 6 NBA Finals, and shot better than 50% 3 times in the Finals. Kobe has had less than 30 ppg in 6 out of 7 NBA Finals.
Kobe has shot higher than 50% for only 1 NBA Finals series. Jordan did that 3 times.
The lowest FG% that Jordan had in an NBA Finals series was 41.5% in 1996, going against DPOY Gary Payton. Kobe has shot 41.5% or lower in all but two NBA Finals series (2002 and 2009)
Kobe has one 40 point game in all 7 NBA Finals, on 47.1%. Jordan averaged 41.0 ppg on 50.8% for the entire 1993 Finals alone.
Kobe averaged 22.6 ppg in the entire 2004 Finals. Jordan never scored lower than 22 points in a single NBA Finals game.
In all 7 NBA Finals, there is only one time that Kobe hit a game tying shot with under 30 seconds left, in Game 2 against the 2004 Pistons. He has never had a go-ahead game winning shot or assist with under 30 seconds left in an NBA Finals game.
Jordan hit the game-tying shot in Game 3 of the 1991 Finals
Jordan hit the go-ahead game winner in Game 1 of the 1997 Finals.
Jordan had the go-ahead shot in Game 5 of the 1997 Finals with the flu.
Jordan had the series-winning assist in Game 6 of the 1997 Finals.
Jordan had the game-tying assist in Game 1 of the 1998 Finals to Longley.
Jordan had the series-winning steal and shot in Game 6 of the 1998 Finals.
To those people who think Jordan's era of defense was weaker than Kobe's, think again.
Jordan had the series-winning assist in Game 6 of the 1997 Finals.
Jordan had the game-tying assist in Game 1 of the 1998 Finals to Longley.
Jordan had the series-winning steal and shot in Game 6 of the 1998 Finals.
To those people who think Jordan's era of defense was weaker than Kobe's, think again.
- As proven here, players from the 90s started increasing their scoring once the 2000s began, and players from the 2000s had a harder time scoring in the 90s
- As proven here, every 2000s superstar had a harder time going against teams with Jordan era defenders compared to the rest of the league - and this was in the 2000s without the old school rules
- The same year that Kobe played the 2002 Nets to win his third championship, a 39 year old Jordan dropped 45-10-7 with 3 steals on 50% shooting against that same exact Nets team
- Not coincidentally, Kobe's worst NBA Finals performance came against the 2000 Pacers, a team full of Jordan era defenders. Even then, almost all of the Pacers' best players were past their prime between the ages of 33 to 38, and it still took Kobe and prime Shaq 6 games to beat them.
- In the 80s and 90s, 4 guards won 5 DPOY awards, not including Jordan. In the 2000s/2010s, 0 guards have won DPOY.
Jordan's era was filled with much higher quality defense, and he still won DPOY while Kobe can't do that in an era of much weaker defensive quality.
Not including Jordan, 5 perimeter players won 7 DPOY in the 80/90s (Rodman x2, Moncrief x2, Alvin Robertson, Payton). Only 1 perimeter player, Ron Artest, won DPOY in the post-Jordan era.
This is also not considering the fact that big men like Tyson Chandler and Roy Hibbert (2nd place DPOY) are the toughest big men competition in the modern era for DPOY, whereas the 80/90s were stacked with much better defensive big men like Hakeem, Kareem, Sampson, Moses, Karl Malone, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Anthony Mason, Alonzo, Mutombo, Rodman (a PF after his Pistons days), and more. Kobe did have good defensive big men competition in the early and mid-2000s, such as Alonzo and Ben Wallace, but obviously not overall comparable to the defensive legends of the 80/90s.
In the 2001/02 season
- T-Mac started 76 games and had 6 40+ point games
- Jordan started 53 games and had 5 40+ point games at 39 years old (All above 50% FG)
- Vince started 60 games and had 4 40+ point games
- Kobe started 80 games and had 1 40+ point game
- Duncan started 82 games and had 1 40+ point game
- Pierce started 82 games and had 1 40+ point game
- Dirk started 76 games and had 1 40+ point game
- Garnett started 81 games and had 0 40+ point games
MJ 2001/02 season before injury (Age 38) through 46 games
(pts, rebs, assist, steals, blk) 25.1 - 6.2 - 5.3 - 1.5 - 0.5 on 42%
(pts, rebs, assist, steals, blk) 25.1 - 6.2 - 5.3 - 1.5 - 0.5 on 42%
In Jordan's 46 games before injury the Wiz had a 26-20 (0.565 win%).
In games without MJ or post-injury after which he started only 7 games, the Wiz were 11-25 (0.300 win%)
In games without MJ or post-injury after which he started only 7 games, the Wiz were 11-25 (0.300 win%)
Jordan's low FG% is irrelevant, not only because 42% shooting as a 38 year old man off of 3 year retirement is far from horrible, but because he helped his team win games regardless.
"Playing the game back then required much more skill"
Kobe is not a copy of Jordan. He is inferior.
More
- Looking at how the Jordan Era players had an easier time in the modern era
- Looking at how a 38-40 year old Jordan himself schooled the 2000s defenders
SECTION 3 - Jordan's "Weak" Defensive Competition Compared to Lebron/Kobe's "Advanced" Competition
- Proving the vast superiority of individual defenders of Jordan's era compared to the 2000s
- Destroying the myth that Jordan never played zone defense
- Proof that 80s/90s players would still have success guarding 2000s players without the 80s/90s rules
- Looking at how Jordan did against the 80s teams and why expansion did not make it easier to win championships
- Proof that Jordan's Competition was 80s-quality and far better than the 2000s era
- Looking at the truth of how the Bulls did without Jordan, and how other great teams did without their stars.
- Did Jordan really get any more special treatment than other superstars? Nope.
- Exposing the myths behind the great, but misunderstood, Wilt Chamberlain
- Looking at how Lebron got locked down by defenders of the 2000s era and comparing them to the vastly superior 80s/90s
- Destroying one of the media's biggest misconceptions regarding Lebron's solid but vastly overrated defense
- Lebron fans think no player in history could succeed if their teammates don't step up, and that Lebron is the only one who has carried a team on his back. Is that really the case?
- The real Jordan vs Lebron comparison
- The real Jordan vs Kobe comparison
- Kareem is great, but he is not even the greatest center of all-time, let alone the greatest of all-time.
- The full context behind Jordan's struggles without Pippen
- A look at how Jordan turned the Wizards around before his knee injury caught up to him
- Looking at Jordan's defensive impact in detail, both as a team player and 1 on 1 defender
- Looking at the strong evidence supporting that Jordan would have achieved more than what LeBron has in Cleveland and Miami
SECTION 21 - Hakeem Olajuwon: The Greatest Center of All-Time
- Hakeem Olajuwon is the best center of all-time, and there is strong evidence to prove it
SECTION 22 - Chris Paul: The Most Overrated Point Guard Of All-Time
- Chris Paul is an extremely overrated playoff performer and defender, and isn't even a top 5 PG of his own era, let alone all-time
SECTION 23 - Kevin Johnson: The Most Underrated Point Guard Of All-Time
- Kevin Johnson is an extremely underrated and under-appreciated point guard, who should have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer and considered a top-10 point guard of all-time
SECTION 24 - The Three Greatest Playoff Runs of All-Time
- Analyzing the three greatest individual playoff runs in NBA history
SECTION 25 - The Worst Finals Performances of All-Time
- Analyzing the worst performances in NBA Finals history
SECTION 26 - Jordan vs Russell
- Comparing the two players who won the most championships as the best player on their team
SECTION 27 - The Five Greatest Coaches of All-Time
- Taking a look at the greatest coaches in NBA history
SECTION 28 - The Least Deserving Finals MVPs of All-Time
- Taking a look at the players who least deserved to win their Finals MVPs
SECTION 29 - Refuting 10 Myths About Michael Jordan
- Refuting certain myths about Jordan, as well as abridging of some of the main points in earlier sections for easier reference.
SECTION 30 - The 20 Greatest Conference Finals Runs of All-Time
- Ranking the 20 greatest playoff runs in which a player played 3 rounds before losing prior to the NBA Finals
SECTION 31 - The 1970s: The Weakest Decade of the NBA's Post-Infancy
- Why the 1970s was the weakest decade of any era from 1960-present
SECTION 32 - The 10 Worst Supporting Casts on NBA Finals Teams (1960-Present)
- Examining the worst supporting casts on teams that reached the NBA Finals
SECTION 33 - The 10 Greatest Rookie Playoff Runs of All-Time
- The most impressive playoff runs in which rookies led their team to at least one series win
SECTION 21 - Hakeem Olajuwon: The Greatest Center of All-Time
- Hakeem Olajuwon is the best center of all-time, and there is strong evidence to prove it
SECTION 22 - Chris Paul: The Most Overrated Point Guard Of All-Time
- Chris Paul is an extremely overrated playoff performer and defender, and isn't even a top 5 PG of his own era, let alone all-time
SECTION 23 - Kevin Johnson: The Most Underrated Point Guard Of All-Time
- Kevin Johnson is an extremely underrated and under-appreciated point guard, who should have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer and considered a top-10 point guard of all-time
SECTION 24 - The Three Greatest Playoff Runs of All-Time
- Analyzing the three greatest individual playoff runs in NBA history
SECTION 25 - The Worst Finals Performances of All-Time
- Analyzing the worst performances in NBA Finals history
SECTION 26 - Jordan vs Russell
- Comparing the two players who won the most championships as the best player on their team
SECTION 27 - The Five Greatest Coaches of All-Time
- Taking a look at the greatest coaches in NBA history
SECTION 28 - The Least Deserving Finals MVPs of All-Time
- Taking a look at the players who least deserved to win their Finals MVPs
SECTION 29 - Refuting 10 Myths About Michael Jordan
- Refuting certain myths about Jordan, as well as abridging of some of the main points in earlier sections for easier reference.
SECTION 30 - The 20 Greatest Conference Finals Runs of All-Time
- Ranking the 20 greatest playoff runs in which a player played 3 rounds before losing prior to the NBA Finals
SECTION 31 - The 1970s: The Weakest Decade of the NBA's Post-Infancy
- Why the 1970s was the weakest decade of any era from 1960-present
SECTION 32 - The 10 Worst Supporting Casts on NBA Finals Teams (1960-Present)
- Examining the worst supporting casts on teams that reached the NBA Finals
SECTION 33 - The 10 Greatest Rookie Playoff Runs of All-Time
- The most impressive playoff runs in which rookies led their team to at least one series win
So dumb.
ReplyDeleteFirst, Jordan got more star treatment.
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M-KCulzJqg
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmlfiMDUTQ4
I know about the 2002 WCF, but Kobe Bryant also got robbed in 2008 Finals by the Celtics.
Second, the Chicago Bulls doesn't have that much changes during Michael Jordan two 3peats, I mean, the team actually got better in the second 3peat by acquiring Dennis Rodman. Kobe Bryant had to deal to a lot of changes.
Another interesting note, the only times that Jordan ever averaged more than 10 free throw attempts in a season were in his 3rd and 4th season, when he lost to the Celtics and the Bad Boy Pistons. He averaged more free throw attempts in his first 6 years (9.8) when he won zero rings compared to his 6 championship season in 7 years with the Bulls (7.8).
DeleteIf the referees were in favor of Jordan winning championships, then why was he shooting less free throws in his championship seasons than he was in his losing seasons? This trend is the same in the playoffs, when he shot much more free throws in his first six playoff years (11.8) compared to his first three-peat (8.7) and second three-peat (9.6).
http://nobodytouchesjordan.blogspot.com/2014/09/section-9-jordan-got-all-calls.html
I read your All-Time rankings somewhere and I noticed that you have Kobe over LeBron. Could you explain why?
ReplyDeleteBasically, Kobe played with the impact of a number 1 option in each of his last 4 championships. His first championship was as a clear 2nd option behind Shaq, but his last 2 with Shaq he was better than Shaq in 2001 and about the same in 2002.
DeleteKobe's also played tougher competition in the West.
LeBron has beat 7 50-win teams in his playoff career
Kobe beat 10 50-win teams from 2008 to 2010 Playoffs alone
LeBron has played 7 playoff teams with losing records
Kobe has played 0 playoff teams with losing records
as for Shaq, his dominance in the Finals against a weak East team and winning Finals MVPs overshadowed how Kobe performed through 3 rounds, when getting out the Western Conference in 2000-02 was a tougher challenge than beating one East team in the Finals.
Here's an example of how much easier Shaq had it against East teams compared to West teams
- Shaq averaged 33 ppg only once in 9 playoff series vs West teams from 2000-02, against the 2001 Kings
- but averaged 33 ppg in each of the 3 Finals against a weak East team in the 3peat.
- When he played against bigs that made him work on both ends (Duncan/Robinson, Sabonis/Rasheed, Webber/Divac) it wasn't as easy for him to dominate like he did against scrub East teams from 2000-02
2001 First 3 rounds (Blazers, Kings, and Spurs (with homecourt)
Kobe
31.6 PPG
7.0 RPG
6.2 APG
1.6 SPG
0.5 BPG
49.5% FG (3% increase from regular season)
Shaq
29.3 PPG
15.3 RPG
2.5 APG
0.5 SPG
1.9 BPG
54% FG (3% decrease from regular season)
Shaq's FG% declined, but Kobe's increased
Kobe as the 2nd option put up LeBron's numbers as the 1st option on the way to his 2nd ring.
2002 First 3 rounds (Blazers, Spurs, Kings (with homecourt))
Kobe
26.6 PPG
5.9 RPG
4.4 APG
1.4 SPG
0.9 BPG
42% FG (5% decrease from regular season)
Shaq
26.4 PPG
12.7 RPG
2.6 APG
0.5 SPG
2.5 BPG
51% Shooting (7% decrease from regular season)
Shaq's FG% took a bigger hit than Kobe's, despite being a center.
So when getting out the West was the real challenge, rather than winning the Finals vs 1 East team, Kobe outperformed Shaq in 2001 and was at least as good in 2002
and then you have to consider that Kobe would do a better job defensively on his matchups such as
- Kidd in 2000 WCSF (on my YT channel)
- Reggie for Game 1 of 2000 Finals before his Game 2 injury, I believe Reggie was 0/5 vs Kobe in Game 1 if I remember correctly. I have the video if you want to check
"Kobe Defense on Reggie Miller - 2000 Finals Game 1"
Then Shaq was free to feast on a weak East team in the Finals, with the Lakers giving him all the touches for an easy Finals MVP and overshadowing Kobe's dominance in the West playoff run, where the hardest challenges lied.
more examples of Kobe playing better competition
DeleteLeBron from 2006-2010 played 7 teams with less than 50 wins. In his 2 title seasons (2012, 2013) he played a total of three 50-win teams if you adjust the 2012 lockout teams for a full 82 game season, and in 2013 he beat 0 50-win teams in the East. The Lakers had to beat 3 50-win teams in the 2001, 2008, and 2010 West playoffs alone just to make the Finals.
Kobe in his entire playoff career as a starter (1999 to 2012) only played 6 teams with less than 50-wins if you adjust 1999 and 2012 lockout teams for a full 82 game season, and was 6-0 against those sub-50 teams
16 of LeBron's 33 playoff opponents (48%) had less than 50-wins (adjusting lockout teams for an 82 game season), so Kobe would have a way easier time against LeBron's playoff opponents in the weak East. During LeBron's entire first run in Cleveland 2006-2010 he only beat one 50-win team, the 2007 Pistons with no Ben Wallace or Larry Brown, so he beat 0 elite playoff teams before joining Miami. LeBron "carrying" Cleveland had much more to do with beating up on weak playoff teams than beating elite competition.
Forget about numbers. Since you talk examples, why don't you talk 81 point game, or that Kobe could kick MJ's ass 1 on 1 any day.
ReplyDeleteBetter yet, you seemed to forget that one instance where rookie AI schooled seasoned MJ.
The truth is, simply talking numbers, Russell was the best NBA player since he had 11 rings, or Wilt was the best because he had tons of 100pt games and the highest ppg.
Basketball is a team game, and individual numbers may or may not contribute to a championchip. However, we can tell a good player from a bad player by watching.
Kobe had a killer 3pt fadeaway compared to which MJ's fadeaway sucks, plus the trajectory of Kobe's shots are sky high making them unblockable. Furthermore, kobe is more explosive than jordan despite being faaaar less athletic (smaller hops, less muscles, tiny hands compared to MJ's mitts).
Another thing, MJ had a much stronger team, while Kobe had to compete against Shaq as well as the other team.
Having said that, I don't think that Kobe is the best ever, AI is a stronger candidate, but sadly he had to leave early. Take other players' words, Kobe, Vince, Isiah Thomas, Lebron and even Charles Barkley admitted it.
To put MJ as the king based on numbers that are not even the top numbers coupled with extremely subjective reasoning is silly at best, more like ridiculous if we're being honest.