[nbarlotta3]

He's clearly on his way to title #5 and he's only 31 years old. If that core stays in LA he could easily win 7 or 8 championships.

[jjgold]

Kobe played with great big men and big men win championships

[Flying Dutchman]

Better attitude (did anyone see Jordan's HOF speech? Lost a lot of street cred with me there)

Who give a fvk? Both these guys have major attitude, it's about what happens on the court.

The public will never accept Kobe. MJ probably nailed as many chicks, but he never got caught with schwantz in hand like Kobe.

Only the La-la land Laker crazies really like Kobe anyway.

MJ with rings and much better public reception wins in a runaway, even if Kobe racks up 10.

BTW, I personally think Kobe is better and he still has a lot of years left.

...and he doesn't like baseball.

[Ralphie1412]

I love how people were blown away at michael jordans hall of fame speech. Michael Jordan an asshole? Ya no shit.....hes the biggest asshole that every walked the earth. Hes a winner.

[will2survive]

Phil Jackson needs to stay there

[BettingWizard]

let's just put it this way:

Kobe has scored 40 ONE TIME in the finals

Jordan averaged 41 in one series against the Suns

Kobe embarassed himself against the Celtics and Pistons in the their Finals losses, anybody that watched those series and says he is better than Jordan is a ****ing moron

Jordan brought it every single night, he didn't hold the ball in protest and not shoot for a quarter like Kobe did.

and this is just a finals comparison, not enough time to list the 100 other reasons

[philswin]

Kobe gaining on Jordan but not there yet, needs 2 or 3 championships and play effectively 6 more years. Then we can talk about. Wilt Chemberlain most dominant player. Bill Russel best team player. Jordan best combo of individual player and team player.

[BettingWizard]

#1 - Michael Jordan 33.45 career playoff points per game (PPG)

#2 - Allen Iverson 29.73 career ppg

#3 - LeBron James 29.31 career ppg

#4 - Jerry West 29.13 career ppg

#5 - Tracy McGrady 28.53 ppg for playoff career

#6 - Elgin Baylor 27.04 ppg for playoff career

#7 - George Gervin 26.98 ppg

#8 - Dwyane Wade 26.30 ppg

#9 - Hakeem Olajuwon 25.9 ppg

#10 Dirk Nowitzki is at 25.55 ppg for his playoff career

#11 Bob Pettit at 25.45

#12 Dominique Wilkins is at 25.41 ppg

#13 is Kobe Bryant has averaged 25.4 ppg in his playoff career

#14 is Rick Barry at 24.77


yeah a guy who averages less than Dirk in the playoffs is the greatest ever lol

[will2survive]

I'll put Bryant's work ethic against anyone.Jordan was a trash talker.He was a master competitor.I think Kobe had more skill but Jordan used his skill to it's fullest

[gryfyn1]

Keep in mind, Jordan win 6 Championships, 6 Finals MVPs, and 5 league MVPS - every finals Jordan was unquestionably the best player on the court -

In his first two or three championships- Kobe may not have been the best player on his team -

[pronk]

Never.

[seaborneq]

Give Kobe his due. But don't let anybody fool you into thinking that Jordan had a peer. Kobe has never been a class higher than his peers, better, but not a class better. 1 and 1A, but never 1 and everybody else is battling to keep from being embarrassed. Jordan in his prime years of 28-30 was so much better than Drexler, Barkley, Reggie, Mitch Richmond, Bird and a declining Magic. Kobe is better than Richard Hamilton, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, AI, Grant Hill, TMac, Vince, and LeBron. But Kobe is not a class better than LeBron. No one was in Jordan's stratasphere, Kobe has people who can compete with him. Jordan had no peer. Today's players are not working as hard as Kobe, but probably on his level athletically, J Richardson, RJeff, Vince, Shannon Brown, Gerald Wallace, etc, don't possess Kobe's skill. Jordan physically was better than his peers, except for maybe Pippen, who possibly could guard him better than anyone(however, they were teammates so we will never know), so his hard work and physical dominance puts him on another level than Kobe.

[seaborneq]

Oh yeah, if that doesn't make you a believer. Kobe Bryant outscores the guarding him every night, Jordan mauled the guy he was guarding and then dropped 30+ on his head. +20 every night he was on the court, scored on you and shut you down, score as many as two of his opponents and shut down the guy he was guarding. Can you say 6 on 4 every night? Hands down the best player ever.

[2daBank]

I love how people were blown away at michael jordans hall of fame speech. Michael Jordan an asshole? Ya no shit.....hes the biggest asshole that every walked the earth. Hes a winner.

i loved MJ's hof speech, cracked me the fuk up.....

far as this MJ vs Kobe shit, MJ is the best but not really a bad thing to be right behind him in the conversation...

[brandonlang]

no jordan best ever

[Chi_archie]

I dont' think so

[Baller85]

Michael Jordan is and always will be the best to ever play the game.

[AmpleGamble]

I personally think MJ is better than Kobe, and the best ever, as do many in this thread. But to be honest, no matter what any other basketball player does, I don't think they will EVER be recognized as the best player of all time. Jordan holds the title and he always will- the public will never give it up.

[only_one]

MIchael is one,he is the best ever definitelly

[KKoz9]

Kobe will NEVER surpass Jordan in anything other than taking the booty by force

[Soxsfan9]

This thread is one big epic fall.
Kobe is not even close to Jordan!

[goldengreek]

He's still young and working on championship number 5.The man is all business.Did you see him next to Chris Rock? He had no interest in talking to a celebrity.To me this is a tough comparison but I think the one thing that Bryant has on his side is that he started younger than Jordan.he still has a way to go..

NO !

[Laki]

When will Kobe get role in the movie with Looney Tunes characters..... NEVER!!!
JORDAN IS THE BEST!!!

[JohnnyD4916]

Nooooo

[tealish]

If the question is whether kobe will ever surpass MJ's STATUS (READ:LEGACY, STATURE, HISTORY), then the answer is a resounding HELL NO. No one will ever be a larger basketball name/icon than Michael Jordan. Never. it won't happen.

If the question is whether Kobe's body of basketball WORK/ACCOMPLISHMENTS/SKILLS will ever surpass MJ's, then the answer is: probably not, but he will in all likelihood finish his career as a not-so-distant #2.

[tealish]

^I use bold text because my answer is definitively correct.

[TT77]

He has a good chance to tie

[sideline36]

There are too many Kobe haters out there for this to happen.

[THEGREAT30]

You can't answer this question fully, he can win more championships and still not pass Jordan in most mines. So, what does he need to do to pass Jordan is a better ? IMO, good day

[carbonero77]

never compared differents decades

[capper123]

mj never had a player like shaq. mj for sure!

[Congruency]

33.5 ppg in the playoffs? dear god

[JW Cash]

Kobe has already surpassed Jordan.....years ago

sorry...thats just how I feel....again....sorry..

[Fred Showpan]

Thing is, Jordan was unanimously considered the GOAT while he was still playing by the public, commentators, and fellow players which cannot be said of Kobe or James. They have to be compared to Michael. Jordan was and is the bar all great players are measured by, and because of that, he can't really be compared to anybody. He changed basketball and sports marketing/endorsements more than any current player is capable of doing, just because of plain circumstance. Not only was he the most competitive and awe inspiring to watch, but he came along at just the right time in bball history post magic/bird and filled the niche perfectly.

There have been tons of phenom boxers since Ali, but none will be able to capture that moment in time of change/excitement because it cannot ever be replicated in that particular sport again - already been done and the standard set. Same thing for Jordan and basketball. He had not only exceptional talent, but the charisma and marketability to change things. Because he changed them he will forever be remembered as the greatest even if someday other players can equal him in raw talent.

[hoopster42]

33.5 ppg in the playoffs? dear god

slow down dude. lets look at that number. this was against oklahoma city who is not a great defensive team, utah who was missing ak-47, and phoenix who used grant hill on him, it was one of the worst western conferences youll ever see, and its only been one game versus the celtics, lets see how many he averages in the finals when its done