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Kobe vs. Jordan – the Non-Comparison

Cosmo Catalano June 14th, 2008

The trophy that Kobe can't win(After the 2009 NBA Finals, I revisited this topic with some suggestions for the second half of Kobe’s career.)

There’s a lot of crap in my life that I’m sick of. Websites that make you register. “Green” vehicles that get 22 miles per gallon. Stores that call you a “guest” instead of a customer—I mean, WTF? If you were a guest at my house and I made you pay $10 bucks to use my wireless network, would you ever come back?

Anyway, with the NBA Finals underway, there’s a lot of talk about whether or not Kobe Bryant is as good as Michael Jordan. After Game 4, in which the Celtics stormed back to win from a 20+ point deficit in Los Angeles, while Kobe got shut down faster than clicking hardrive at an IT convention, most of that is gone.

But, being the objective guy I am, I’ve decided to compile a list of things at which Kobe Bryant is superior to Michael Jordan:

  1. Whining – after every drive that couldn’t have been made with a blindfold on, even the ones where he scores, Kobe turns to the ref and shouts, making some gesture to indicate that his jersey was tugged or his arm was held. Jordan just backpedaled down the court and played defense—better than Kobe does.
  2. Retiring – Kobe could still blow this one. He currently has zero failed retirements to Jordan’s two, but he’s just so freakin’ unpopular with teammates and standoffish with fans that I can’t imagine anyone would want him back.
  3. Dodging Rape Allegations – Honestly, this one might just be a trick of circumstance. I feel like if Jordan ever had to dodge any rape allegations, he would have done so better than Kobe.
  4. Gambling - I could be way off on this one, but numerous people claim to have won tremendous sums of money from MJ, including one claim in excess of $1,000,000. Kobe might have similar losses that I just don’t know about, but in my experience, only interesting people gamble.
  5. Stonewalling - Seriously, if I were to engage in some sort of criminal conspiracy with with either Kobe or MJ, I would go with Kobe, since he’s really good at being cold, unfriendly, and not talkative. That’ll come in handy, should he be taken into custody. Jordan would be all garrulous, charming the cops and trying to sell them McDonald’s or Nike or whatever.
  6. Wearing an Arm Sock – Grasping for straws, I know. But Jordan never wore an arm sock. Kobe wins by default.

Now lets compare this to the list of things in which Jordan’s skill exceeds Kobe’s:

  1. Basketball – No contest here. 6 titles, 5 MVPs, and no 20+ point comebacks in the Finals by opposing teams on his home court vs. 1 MVP and no titles without Shaq (though a 2008 title is still possible). Jordan also did it against tougher competition.
  2. Marketing – The fact that Kobe plays with a friggin’ undershirt on but MJ remains the Hanes spokesman speaks volumes about the divergence in natural salesmanship between the two. Kobe couldn’t sell smack to a junkie, where Jordan could get one clean just by flashing a smile.
  3. Acting – Jordan has a number of film credits (though not quite as many as Shaq), including the 1998 feature Space Jam, a film that was built around the MJ brand. He also appeared in real movies like He Got Game. Kobe just does a lot of talk shows.
  4. Baseball – During retirement #1, Jordan played poorly on a minor league baseball team. He also bought them a bus, but still, he didn’t look entirely out of place on that level. Kobe has yet to play professional baseball.
  5. Changing Jerseys – “When I come back like Jordan, wearin’ the four-five“ . MJ briefly played with the #45 jersey upon his return to the Bulls because his signature #23 had already been retired. I don’t see any #8 hanging from the rafters at the Staples Center, do you?
  6. Being a Teammate – Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Horace Grant – Jordan made all these players better. He pressured them to succeed, but he never lectured them or chewed them out. He earned their respect. Kobe, not so much.
  7. Trivial Pursuit – This is just a guess. But Jordan has three years of study on an academically-eligible-to-compete level at North Carolina. Kobe did not attend college. (Related – how sick would it be to see a fourth Jordan comeback to play and complete his degree at UNC?

So yeah. Clearly no contest here. LeBron is already a better comparison to MJ, and he doesn’t even have titles yet.

Now if only I could get the New York Times to stop making me register.

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  • jdm

    I’d like to start off by saying that you whom wrote this blog are a complete idiot and when I say complete idiot, I mean COMPLETE IDIOT! Look I love Kobe but I’ll be the first to admit that Jordan is the greatest of all time. No arguement there pal. However, to say the things you said about Kobe are wrong. That’s a cheap shot at one the greatest of all time and by far the greastest in my era. I guess I understand why you, like all other Jordan nut huggers hate Kobe so much. Because he came so close and so soon to dethroning Jordan and that scared and continues to scare the crap out of you as he continues to do some amazing stuff on the hard wood. Like I said, you’re an idiot Kobe is everything he is made out to be and he is wroth all the hype that surrounds him. The way I see it, he’s only a step behind Jordan and all you folks that claim Jordan was far superior than Kobe have either been living under a rock for the last 13 years of are no smarter than a rock and should be living under a rock!

  • jdm

    With all that said, lets go LAKERS!!

    PS. I would probably have been the greatest player ever if I didn’t get both my knees shattered by a drunk driver! I was 12, and committed to UCLA!! Go Bruins!!

  • AJ

    jdm,

    Kobe has even never come close to dethroning Jordan. R U serious?

    Reasons Why MJ is way better 1. MJ played in a better “era” for one. Kobe has never played against Bird, Magic, or Kareem. 2. MJ has dominated at every level. Kobe never went to college. Probably because he was scared of getting hand checked by a college defender and won’t get the call like he would in the “Star blanketed” NBA. 3. MJ was is a better defender. MJ has one Defensive player of the Year award Kobe has zero. MJ played defense for 48 minutes Kobe picks his spots to play D. 4. MJ is wayyyyyyyyy more valuable to his teams. He won finals MVP every time they(Bulls) won. Kobe is yet to win finals MVP. Because he was the second most valuable player on his teams that won championships(of course after Shaq). Anyone who is the second most valuable player on their team shouldn’t even be compared to MJ. 5. MJ is much tougher. Both mentally and physically. Kobe cries any time he gets touched. MJ took hard fouls. 6. MJ is better at every offensive category except turning the ball over Kobe has him beat there.

    I watched the Lakers playoff game last week and Reggie Miller was announcing it and he said “just think if MJ would have had dominant big men like Gasol and Bynum…he would have won even more championships.” so true.

    Oh and one last Thing. Kobe’s 81 point game vs Raptors < MJ’s 63 in playoffs vs Celtics

  • WTF

    Come on guys!!!! why the hell it will go to comparrison. Jordan have made NBA popular to other countries who don’t have interest in basketball, that’s it. whether your Jordan or Kobe is not important. To those Kobe fans these arguements will not stop. Every great athletes have their era why not jordan have his retirement also in discussion and will just wait when will Kobe has his retirement.

  • Charlie

    I think you can’t compare these two guys, because whenever u do so, u compare Jordans career long stats against what Kobe has accomplished so far. Whoever thought Kobe would not be able to win a title without Shaq…. hmm who won this years title? and who was the Finals MVP? ohh yeah thats right. And i read a comment about how Kobe blew last years finals against the Celtics while Jordan never did something like that. Let Jordan play against Garnet, Pierce and Allen without Pippen and with a rusty Rodman, like Kobe did without Bynum and a rusty Ariza. I wont say that Kobe is the best, because he is not… yet. But he still has time to accomplish it, and whoever says that he cant be compared to Jordan, should take Jordan out of their buttholes. Lets talk about skills and not about who sells more shoes. And the truth is Jordan is the best player in NBA history, but Kobe is on his way to the top, and haters, whether u like it or not, he is the best active player in the NBA today, and he is up there with Mike, above everybody else, getting better every time. So stop talking and leaving comments about how great Jordan was if u r not able to see the truth when u got ur mouthful with jordans … and realize that there is a player in the NBA who has the talent and potential to surpass him.

  • john

    Just a tidbit Jordan return to UNC in 1986 to complete his degree.

  • rob

    Kobe will never get the respect that MJ did because he’s a whiner. Plain and simple. Personally I think MJ was significantly more physically talented than Kobe but I can kinda see how this might be a matter of perspective. I will give Kobe this … He has matured over the last few years and learned to keep his mouth shut (most of the time) but he still has that legacy.

  • http://www.nike-kicks.com nike dunk

    they are nuthin to great but ill get a pair or 2 outta the bunch to keep my collection beefing up

  • 1baller

    All i have to say is that i have watched Michael Jordan and kobe Bryant play and kobe skill level is way superior than jordans. kobe has better range better dribbling skills and better foot work than Jordan just look at the videos on youtube. i followed jordans career since his first championship and now kobes. Jordan is considered the greatest because of his accomplishments, rings, mvps and stats but both players played in different eras so dont give me this bull. Am talking about skill level. kobes game is so beautiful to watch. At the end of kobes career we will see who comes on top.

  • SoReal

    Michael Air Jordan – The Greatest Basketball Player Ever Famous Americans Quotes: Bill Clinton, Former President – • “In my life, I don’t know if I ever saw another athlete with such a remarkable set of qualities of mind, body and spirit.” • “The economy has produced 6.1 million jobs since I became President and if Michael Jordan goes back to the Chicago Bulls it will be 6 millions 1 hundred thousand and 1 new jobs.” David Stern – • “You are simply the “Standard” by which basketball excellence is measured.” • “In a league of stars and a game of stars, “You” are the star of stars. Congratulation on being the 1998 All-Star MVP.” David Halberstam, Author – “He’s an American Original. If a friend from Europe comes to me and say I’m in your country what do I see, I would say well go to the Grand Canyon and then go to Chicago and watch Michael Jordan play, he’s who we are.” William Goldman, Screen Writer – “You might see something if you watched him that you haven’t seen before and will never see again.” Bob Costas, NBC Sports – • “He has a force of personality that’s not the same thing as sports talent but elevates that talent and if you didn’t know anything about basketball and he walked in the room, you would say that’s somebody that’s has to be somebody.” • “He’s the most tenacious competitor, add that to his physical gifts and he has a sense of history and a sense of what his legacy can be if he keeps pushing it. Something about this guy, so likeable, so dignified and classy and yet with the athletic heart of an assassin.” • “His game is beautiful to watch, not just affective in an athletic sense, but theatrically he is beautiful. He has that presence, there is something about him.” Phil Taylor, Sports Illustrated – “He was so good, so charismatic that whatever he did suddenly became popular and became cool.” Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated – “The one thing about Michael Jordan that makes him the most remarkable athlete that I’ve ever seen and probably ever will see is that he was always better than the hype, okay and now he is hyped even more, but he gets better and better. And I have never seen anything like it.” Ahmad Rashad, NBC Sports – He’s blessed with so many God given abilities and then his own self drive that makes him even better than that is something that takes him off the scale.” Jerry West – “For Michael Jordan, once the burden of winning a championship was gone, he just soared to even greater heights and it’s just hard to even imagine.”

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