I was getting a little tired of the Kobe and MJ comparisons because Kobe will never have the physical gifts MJ had. So I got to thinking who Kobe would compare well with. I picked Glide because most of us are familiar with him, he played great defense, and was considered a top 50 player. So here goes my comparison. Defense - tie Jumping ability - Glide Jumpshooting - Glide Post - Glide penetration - Kobe open floor - Glide getting calls - Kobe passing - Kobe clutchness - Kobe Although a hard decision to make, I think I would pick Kobe over Glide because he gets more attention which leads to easy baskets for his teammates and his clutchness. Glide is one of my favorite players but he definitely was not clutch. He disappeared in the 2 series against MJ and the slipping incidents against Utah were almost unforgivable.
Fair evaluation. However, Kobe gets the nod, because RIGHT NOW, he's as good as Drexler ever was. Scary thing is that Kobe might have just scratched the surface of his potential. Despite being a big Kobe fan, I might consider giving the penetration edge to Drexler. It's not that Kobe can't drive, it's just that Shaq kind of clogs the middle, meaning that Kobe takes a ton of jumpers because of lack of spacing. Glide had free reign to drive to the hoops in his Por days. As far as jumpshooting goes, Drexler was never really a great jumpshooter, especially off the dribble. Arguably, Kobe is the best jumpshooter off the dribble in the NBA, with his driftback jumper.
I honestly feel that Kobe plays the better d and has a better j, it's not that I like him but I must admit that he is probably better at this stage of his career (Kobe). And I also think that Tmac is just head and shoulders above either of the two.
Ridiculous comparison. FACT: Clyde Drexler took TWO teams to the NBA Finals while being the best player on the team BY FAR, in a more competitive league. FACT: Bryant is not even the best player ON HIS OWN TEAM! Disappeared? WTF? Do you even know what his stats were? Not clutch? Because he lost in the Finals twice, that makes him not clutch? But somehow a SIDEKICK is clutch? Did you even see Game 5 vs. Utah in '95? Do you know where Drexler ranks all-time in steals? That's WITHOUT a big guy backing him up in the paint.
Agreed with Clyde, but Kobe isn't a shabby passer himself. I'd rate them equal in passing. Clyde was a great high post passer. But Kobe is the better passer off of penetration. Kobe plays like a 6 ft 7 PG at times.
Hey let's not get carried away here Kobe is no side kick he almost single handedly took the Lakers past the Pacers in overtime when they started their run. And if he is a side kick, he is one on the best player of this decade so far, I agree that he is not the best player ever, and I absolutely loved Clyde's game but Kobe is nice. I also have to give it up to kidrock8 he said what I had not yet worded correctly, Kobe is the better creator.
Actually Pippen is the greatest sidekick ever (6 rings). Let's talk again when Bryant has 6 as a sidekick. I seem to recall SHAQ winning the last 3 Finals MVPs. How does that not make Bryant a sidekick? If Bryant isn't a sidekick, why is he not the main focus of the defense? Clyde was THE MAN on his team, and went to the Finals TWICE. That's something no one has done in the last 20+ years other than Jordan, Hakeem, Isiah, Moses, Bird, Magic, or Shaq. You're better off comparing Bryant to Pippen or Dumars (even he won a Finals MVP).
Yep, for right now, Scottie Pippen is a more apt comparison for Kobe Bryant. Remember, that's no slight to Kobe. Scottie made a hell of a sidekick to Jordan. Until Bryant is handed the reins of his own team, he will always be Shaq's "little brother". It's not Bryant's fault; actually, it's a blessing in that he got 3 rings from it. But until he's the main cog of a team, Scottie Pippen is the better comparison. Now if you want to compare the Drexler on the Rockets to Kobe, that may be the better comparison to make as of now.
Once again the overration (thats probably not a word) of Kobe continues. He's a great player, but too many of you are neglecting the impact Shaq has on him. Not having to deal with constant double and triple teams is a luxury Kobe enjoys that Clyde never could until he hit Houston. Azim da Dream
First of all, notice my username. I do, however, consider myself objective. Here's my quick overview, if anyone cares (I added two categories rockbox didn't have): Defense - Barely Glide (Kobe can be better at times, but Drexler gave more consistent effort. I give Drexler just the slightest of edges) Jumping ability - Glide (Although I think Kobe is the quicker jumper) Jumpshooting - Kobe (Drexler's jumper might have been better as he got closer, but Kobe is equally comfortable from everywhere out to 20 feet) Post - Glide (Though Kobe has the superior quickness. This is another very slight edge) penetration - Kobe (Kobe is quicker and has the superior ballhandling, but I also think Clyde picked his spots just a little better) open floor - Glide (Drexler's passing is so much better in the open floor that this is an easy one) getting calls - Kobe (Yep, he's certainly more popular) passing - Glide (I think Kobe is better at passing in the air/while driving, while Glide is better at setting up the offense/passing in the open floor. Clyde would be the better point guard, so I give him the edge) clutchness - Kobe (Because Kobe can hurt you from anywhere, while if you stick on Drexler 20 feet out he isn't nearly as effective) rebounding - Glide (Kobe doesn't box out like Clyde did. Besides, look at the numbers) ballhandling - Kobe (Not much to say here. Kobe is just plain better) Well... six for Glide, five for Kobe. Yes, I think that Glide was slightly better than the Kobe of today, but I also think that Kobe will surpass Glide as a player without much trouble, though he will never have Clyde's passing or rare gentlemanly manner.
i still think kobe is good. buit it is a good point about doubling shaq leaves him mor eopen. Maybe t mac is better.
I give Clyde the edge on penetration to the basket. When he puts his head down and drives theres no stoping him. I also think he was a lot more physical than Kobe.
If Drexler had the type of teamate that Kobe had from day one, (hakeem) Drexler would have been considered as good or even better than Jordon ever was. Why? Well if the Rockets had a chance to make it to the finals every year like the Bulls did, Drexler would have received the type of seniority that MJ received from the refs; getting all the calls that he deserved. Also, having a player like Hakeem would have made him so much better because he would have realized that the team isn't all depended on him, and he would have had a chance to worry more about himself rather than the whole team. Period.
Two things that need to be pointed out in Clyde's favor: 1. In the post it's Clyde all the way. He was strong, wide, and big when posting up and essentially created (or at least refined) the fast break post-up where he would get behind the defender and seal him off at the free throw line while looking for the pass down the lane. 2. Too many people think "clutch" only refers to shots. I give the edge to Clyde here because he was clutch at both ends of the floor. He made a bunch of clutch steals, rebounds, and blocked shots in his career. I don't know who is better overall, but my all-time fantasy team remains Clyde, Dream, Jordan, Dr. J, and Magic.
Very good post. I agree with everything you say here, Drexlerfan. One thing you mentioned is very important: Glide is BY FAR a classier guy than Kobe (and Pippen, for that matter).
Which is a huge reason why Clyde is my all-time favorite player, and also one of many reasons I have the level of respect for Hakeem and Julius Erving that I do.
Man, talk about the fast breaks on that team! But, what happens when they play a team of Wilt, Kareem, Bill, Cowens, and Oscar?
Stats, shmats. Of course Drexler's rebounding totals will be slightly higher than Kobe's. Considering that hte pace of the game in the 80s was much faster than today. More shots, mean more rebounds. Also, Buck Williams was the only good rebounder Drexler played with in Por. And Buck would get around 10 a game. Kobe is not asked to rebound much because LA has Shaq. Kobe is the one guy LA asks to look to go up the court when they get on offense.
