Phil Jackson: Jordan better than Kobe

[Genx87]

Phil Jackson, better known as captain obvious.

 

[Zargon]

You don't buy the gambling suspension rumor?

what does that have to do with MJ's utter dominance of the basketball court?

 

[tboo]

I entirely agree with Phil Jackson.

 

[spaceman]

tough call? no not if u watched both play

 

[glenn1]

Kobe responds:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/e...jacksons-comparison-of-him-and-michael-jordan

This would have been a good time for Kobe to show humility. Even if he could somehow "prove" he was better, Jordan is so universally beloved that it would just backfire on Kobe if he did. Better to say something anodyne like "I'm flattered by the comparison; I admire Jordan greatly but there'll never be another like him."

 

[Scarpozzi]

The Laker's stayed in the same hotel I stayed in a few years back. I saw Kobe and Odom in the lobby... I went to see them play that night and have to say, he's probably one of the more gifted offensive players to ever have played the game....he's just not exactly the best sportsman.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Not even remotely close....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGLaKfEyRL4

NBA wishes they had another Jordan on their hands....unfortunately past decade or so no one has come even close. I don't think anyone will ever come close either....

 

[DougK62]

I think MJ is one of the biggest dbags of all time, but there is no denying that he was a better player than Kobe.

 

[CPA]

Not even remotely close....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGLaKfEyRL4

NBA wishes they had another Jordan on their hands....unfortunately past decade or so no one has come even close. I don't think anyone will ever come close either....

I couldn't picture Kobe making 3/4's of those shots. Kobe is a good jump shooter, but he can't drive or make the impossible shot as consistent has MJ.

 

[Red Storm]

Jordan better than Kobe, the sun sets in the west, and 2 + 2 = 4. More at 11.

Seriously, this was news? I'm a Laker fan and I have greatly admired watching Kobe play, but he isn't better than Jordan. He's the 2nd best guard to ever play the game, and that is high praise.

I couldn't picture Kobe making 3/4's of those shots. Kobe is a good jump shooter, but he can't drive or make the impossible shot as consistent has MJ.

He easily could. Where Kobe falls short of Jordan is in defense and leadership. Offensively he's just as good if not better, but that's only half the game.

 

[glenn1]

Jordan better than Kobe, the sun sets in the west, and 2 + 2 = 4. More at 11.

Seriously, this was news? I'm a Laker fan and I have greatly admired watching Kobe play, but he isn't better than Jordan. He's the 2nd best guard to ever play the game, and that is high praise.

He easily could. Where Kobe falls short of Jordan is in defense and leadership. Offensively he's just as good if not better, but that's only half the game.

I'm not sure Kobe is even the 2nd best guard in Lakers history, much less the NBA. Kobe vs. Magic Johnson is a pretty even contest IMHO.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I'm not sure Kobe is even the 2nd best guard in Lakers history, much less the NBA. Kobe vs. Magic Johnson is a pretty even contest IMHO.

Magic was better. Not only due to other talent on his team supporting him but because he played against MANY MANY greats (unlike Kobe)

 

[stag3]

gtfo with the lebron shit, dude is good because the way his body is built, he does not have the skillset of either jordan or kobe

but jordan > kobe is a no brainer

 

[Vdubchaos]

gtfo with the lebron shit, dude is good because the way his body is built, he does not have the skillset of either jordan or kobe

Agreed

Lebron is the most over rated player ever.

 

[Red Storm]

I'm not sure Kobe is even the 2nd best guard in Lakers history, much less the NBA. Kobe vs. Magic Johnson is a pretty even contest IMHO.

Magic ain't no guard, he was a point forward that could play every position, similar to Lebron.

 

[JM Aggie08]

This was actually a serious debate?

 

[Arkaign]

I think a lot of what made Jordan was his character. I don't even mean in moral terms, but more in the terms of what made him tick. He never rested, he constantly evolved, gained depth, and had a drive and fire in him that really was one in a million. Physically perhaps he's maybe top 100 players of all time? But as a package, absolutely the best, no question about it.

The problem I think people like Kobe and especially Lebron run into is that their physical gifts let them slide for so long just being bigger/faster/stronger during high school and college, so they don't develop an extreme amount of depth, nor the work ethic to drastically improve over their careers. If you go look at Jordan's college tapes, he was already spectacular, but you can see how he kept adding abilities over the years, even into (and perhaps especially) the era where his raw physical abilities began to diminish.

Interestingly, those qualities as yet haven't manifested beyond the court. It's not that he's a failure or anything, but one would almost think he could be the next Phil Jackson or Pat Ewing, or at least a brilliant person at picking talent. But in reality, he hasn't risen to anywhere near anything resembling real success in those areas. Perhaps he's just not that driven any more. He's richer than he could ever want to be, it seems like that old fire is just fading away. Sort of a shame, what I wouldn't give to see MJ out there coaching up a storm and blowing us all away with his final act.

 

[Corporate Thug]

gtfo with the lebron shit, dude is good because the way his body is built, he does not have the skillset of either jordan or kobe

but jordan > kobe is a no brainer

the way you are built has everything to do with what skill set you develop.

 

[glenn1]

Magic ain't no guard, he was a point forward that could play every position, similar to Lebron.

Fine, I'll adjust my statement taking your feedback into account.

Magic is not only a better guard than Kobe when he plays that position, he's more versatile and thus he's a far better forward and center than Kobe also.

Better?

 

[momeNt]

All-Time Starting 5

PG: Magic Johnson
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: LeBron James
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Center is probably the toughest one to decide.

 

[Red Storm]

I think a lot of what made Jordan was his character. I don't even mean in moral terms, but more in the terms of what made him tick. He never rested, he constantly evolved, gained depth, and had a drive and fire in him that really was one in a million. Physically perhaps he's maybe top 100 players of all time? But as a package, absolutely the best, no question about it.

The problem I think people like Kobe and especially Lebron run into is that their physical gifts let them slide for so long just being bigger/faster/stronger during high school and college, so they don't develop an extreme amount of depth, nor the work ethic to drastically improve over their careers. If you go look at Jordan's college tapes, he was already spectacular, but you can see how he kept adding abilities over the years, even into (and perhaps especially) the era where his raw physical abilities began to diminish.

Interestingly, those qualities as yet haven't manifested beyond the court. It's not that he's a failure or anything, but one would almost think he could be the next Phil Jackson or Pat Ewing, or at least a brilliant person at picking talent. But in reality, he hasn't risen to anywhere near anything resembling real success in those areas. Perhaps he's just not that driven any more. He's richer than he could ever want to be, it seems like that old fire is just fading away. Sort of a shame, what I wouldn't give to see MJ out there coaching up a storm and blowing us all away with his final act.

Superstar players make terrible coaches so I'd have to disagree there. Phil was a good role player, and that played a big part in making him a great coach.

And Kobe did develop his game beyond pure physical advantages.

Fine, I'll adjust my statement taking your feedback into account.

Magic is not only a better guard than Kobe when he plays that position, he's more versatile and thus he's a far better forward and center than Kobe also.

Better?

Look, Kobe is the 2nd best guard of all time, simple as that. Kobe is to Jordan what Lebron is to Magic.

 

[swanysto]

Umm. If Jordan had Shaq on his team, he would have gone for double digit championships, Kobe's argument is invalid.

 

[Red Storm]

Umm. If Jordan had Shaq on his team, he would have gone for double digit championships, Kobe's argument is invalid.

That easily goes both ways, imagine Kobe playing alongside Pippen and Rodman. Both Kobe and Jordan played with amazing team mates and coaches, and without those two things neither of them would have won anything.

 

[Zargon]

most of jordans big name teammates are big names becaues they played with MJ

beyond Rodman who was a star elsewhere, look at who kobe has played well

he doesnt play well with others, look at his damn shot totals, and all the talent he was paired with this year

 

[purbeast0]

That easily goes both ways, imagine Kobe playing alongside Pippen and Rodman. Both Kobe and Jordan played with amazing team mates and coaches, and without those two things neither of them would have won anything.

the difference is kobe played with people who were already superstars, where as jordan was the only superstar on that team and he made everyone around him better. kobe does not have that effect, and i believe a lot of it has to do with his leadership ability. he doesn't have it at all compared to jordan.