AB is a much better player, that isn't even a question. The fact that he has a niche alone makes him better. It used to baffle me when we plagued Lin over him, but I guess it was to justify what we were paying him.
Wow kobe shot less and the lakers win. You might see a patern here (that is if you are not Bryant). It is to bad that such a talented and hard working player has so little understanding how to play in a team.
Some people suspect that it's not that he doesn't understand, but he just doesn't care about the team.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kobe slams door on idea that he won’t be able to fulfill contract. Says he looks forward to playing next year even though it’s hard to play</p>— Bill Oram (@billoram) <a href="https://twitter.com/billoram/status/550152070347501569">December 31, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kobe: "I'm a natural scorer but it doesn't mean I can't evolve."</p>— Bill Oram (@billoram) <a href="https://twitter.com/billoram/status/550157161032986625">December 31, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kobe on playing in 2015-16: "Is it very difficult right now to play? Yeah. Am I looking forward to playing next year? Yes."</p>— Bill Oram (@billoram) <a href="https://twitter.com/billoram/status/550159918402002944">December 31, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kobe: "If you asked me if I’m going to play beyond that, right now the answer is no."</p>— Bill Oram (@billoram) <a href="https://twitter.com/billoram/status/550160052250624002">December 31, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Brian Shaw, who knows Kobe better than most, said recent time off will "rejuvenate him for the short term until he wears himself down again"</p>— Bill Oram (@billoram) <a href="https://twitter.com/billoram/status/550173489684951041">December 31, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I don't know what it is exactly but it's exactly why Jordan is the GOAT. I've always maintained I think Kobe was the better skilled basketball player but Jordan understood how to get himself easy looks. Kobe takes pride in making the difficult shot. So much so that he'd seek them out as some sort of challenge. Sure Jordan liked knocking down the difficult shot too but he was always looking for the easy shot. It's pride and mindset IMO
I agree and have mentioned this a few times. Jordan worked at and excelled at getting himself the best look at the basket with little wasted motion or energy while Kobe has worked at becoming the most skilled difficult shot-maker in the league. I imagine Jordan practiced one or two dribble drives to the rim, his fade-away (later in his career) and jumpers (both catch and shoot and off the dribble)...the basics. Meanwhile, I imagine Kobe spending tens of thousands of hours in the gym concocting hypothetical situations where he has to combine move after move against multiple defenders to get off an off-balanced, contested jumper from 22 feet. That's why Kobe shoots 35% on those shots while the rest of the league shoots 10% on them. What did Mike do in those situations that Kobe imagines and practices for? Jordan would have just passed the ball and cut to the hoop for a dunk...a 99% shot. That's the difference.
Good post. I watched MJ his entire career and he started much like Kobe. The difference is that he evolved to play within himself and the team. Check out some of his games in the first few seasons. Lots of attacking double and triple teams, lack of trust in his teammates, etc. He lit up the stat sheet but always lost in the playoffs. Detroit had him figured out cold (The Jordan Rules). But like I said he was smart enough to evolve. Then he was even more deadly. The less athletic MJ late in his Bulls career was a much, MUCH more efficient and lethal player because he made everyone around him consistently better. Kobe never really did that.
how did you come to the conclusion that Kobe is the more skilled player? Could you give some examples?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kobe Bryant has now missed 13 straight game-tying/go-ahead FG in final 5 seconds of 4th quarter/OT. His last make was March 2012.</p>— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/551258370599313408">January 3, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>College coach just called & said: "Kobe talks about profiting off kids, then takes kickbacks when they sign with his agent. Hypocritical."</p>— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDaniels/status/551416997633073152">January 3, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
