Was Kobe more athletically gifted tham MJ?

[BigBusiness]

Was listening to a sports discussion on the radio a few hours ago and while everyone agreed that LeBron was more athletically gifted than both Jordan and Kobe, there were some callers saying that Kobe was more athletically gifted than Jordan.<br>
<br>
Are they right?

[ans61201]

Probably. Like Steve Kerr said prettt much perfectly. "Everyone excepts evolution in every part of life but seem to think evolution just goes in reverse in sports." Athletes continue to get bigger, faster, stronger, jump higher.

[jjgold]

Kobe had some great players

[rm18]

Of course not he was 2 inches taller though

[jtoler]

if callers have to ask this question then they either didnt see both play or dont know what athleticism is. kobe was in no way more athletically gifted than jordan, which brings up a thing when comparing players, it becomes unbalanced. one will be more athletically gifted than the other therefore the other has to have attributes in his game to overcome it, whether its simply playing the right way, desire, or becoming more technically sound in aspects of their game. Westbrook is the most athletic guard today, but I wouldnt consider him the best by any means.

[robbypark]

lol Kobe wasn't even close to the athlete Jordan is. Like, did you people grow up watching basketball at all? Jordan defied gravity at times. He had layups and plays that seemed completely impossible at the time. Remember the fake with one hand and reverse with the other layup? Kobe couldn't even do a free throw line dunk.

This is a ridiculous discussion. MJ was on a whole other level of athleticism compared to Kobe, who was basically a volume jump shooter.

[robbypark]

Probably. Like Steve Kerr said prettt much perfectly. "Everyone excepts evolution in every part of life but seem to think evolution just goes in reverse in sports." Athletes continue to get bigger, faster, stronger, jump higher.

Jordan was stronger, faster, more explosive and could jump way higher than Kobe.

[eidolon]

Where is Vince Carter on this athletically gifted chart?

[Hman]

Not sure about being more gifted, but Kobe is the closest we've seen to Jordan, not you know who.

[19th Hole]

Everyone knows that Kobe was only more gifted in one department.
The rape department.

[Eddy Munny]

Everyone knows that Kobe was only more gifted in one department.
The rape department.

Craig Ehlo would disagree.

[jjgold]

Vince Carter very close to Jordan athletically

[IBetYou]

Jordan was quicker.

Steve Kerr is a bright guy but he apparently doesn't understand evolution...

[IBetYou]

Jordan was incredible defensively because of his speed. Like Victor Oladipo times ten. Bryant had the length, but I'd take the quickness.

[jtoler]

yes its the quickness and leaping ability and agility. the quickness and leaping ability are natural, the way muscle fibers twitch for such bursts. when you watched certain guys with the ball mostly in their youth on fast breaks who's legs churn like a locomotive, jordan much quicker than kobe. when you watched young lebron in open court on fast breaks or iverson, just ridiculous speed. steve nash with phoenix in open court was a blur as well as a young jason kidd. i remember d'antoni saying nash wasnt fast once looked fast to me but he was referring to nash getting a head start on people so I know what he means, nash would get ahead on breaks and just go while others wouldnt be expecting it

[Hman]

the way muscle fibers twitch for such bursts

[The Kraken]

[rm18]

lol Kobe wasn't even close to the athlete Jordan is. Like, did you people grow up watching basketball at all? Jordan defied gravity at times. He had layups and plays that seemed completely impossible at the time. Remember the fake with one hand and reverse with the other layup? Kobe couldn't even do a free throw line dunk.
This is a ridiculous discussion. MJ was on a whole other level of athleticism compared to Kobe, who was basically a volume jump shooter.

You must of missed the 2001 playoffs he dunked on RObinson and Duncan like 25 times in one series

[rm18]

VInce not super athletic overall good vertical and very long arms. McGrady was a more impressive athlete to me.

[Hman]

You must of missed the 2001 playoffs he dunked on RObinson and Duncan like 25 times in one series

You sparked some memories.

You know who else used to dunk on everybody?

Penny Hardaway

[nyplayer33]

Yes Kobe was

[The Kraken]

Westbrook more athletic than both, just can’t shoot as well as either

so what’s the point

[DOM-Ganador]

Westbrook would probably beat all the guys in a Superstars competition. Individual athletic prowess. Yipee.

Any sane human wouldn`t even consider having RWB on your team over MJ/Kobe. Let alone D.Mitchell.

[ikid2groove415]

Kobe even admit he copy all of MJ moves

[JIBBBY]

[2daBank]

Kobe was better pure shooter, wasn't more athletically gifted tho. Not sure Kobe put the time into lifting as Jordan did either?

Kobe was no doubt a worker who put in the time on his game which one of reasons I was a big fan, far too many of these jerkoffs skate by on god given talent and don't bother putting the extra work it requires to be great. Kobe never fell into that category as by all accounts he was a gym rat!!

[2daBank]

Kobe even admit he copy all of MJ moves

Everyone who's goal it is to be great (as Kobe no doubt was) steals moves from previous greats. Who hasn't been in gym emulating moves from their favorites? I spent countless hours copying Hakeem the dreams post moves and footwork!!

[ikid2groove415]

Well this thread was asking is Kobe more athletic- not better - I would say no - to both

[2daBank]

Well this thread was asking is Kobe more athletic- not better - I would say no - to both

Not disagreeing. Of course Jordan was better and little more athletically gifted. Just saying it no knock on Kobe cause he emulated a lot of Jordan's moves, no better guy to try and be like than the greatest ever!!

I do think Kobe was a better pure shooter than Jordan, that bout only place I'd give him the nod. Jordan had to really work on his shot.

[JIBBBY]

[2daBank]

Jordan loved to school the young hotshots when they came in the league. Seen it many a time when he would go to one those kids being hyped as the next MJ arena and just put a whooping on them!!

[Optional]

Who's more athletic??

[2daBank]

Who's more athletic??

Case closed

[JIBBBY]

^ He was called AIR JORDAN for a reason.. Kobe could jump but he didn't have those kind of hops..

[Hman]

Jordan loved to school the young hotshots when they came in the league. Seen it many a time when he would go to one those kids being hyped as the next MJ arena and just put a whooping on them!!

Yep & he'd do the same to LeBron