This may have already been said, but think about it, do you think Micheal Jordan would go 2 1/2 quarters of a Finals game without scoring a field goal? The question is absurd. Could Tayshuan Prince frustrate Jordan? Ok enough, the questions are preposterous. To even think of such a thing is laughable. Jordan, in the locker room right before the start of the game, could have his knee bashed in with a club like Nancy Kerigan, suffer a major hernia, twist his ankle walking out the locker room, and while walking out the tunnel fall on his head and suffer a concussion, and still not let a team hold him without a field goal for 2 and 1/2 quarters of a Finals Game.
The one thing that Kobe did quite possibly as well as Jordan which also allows him to make wild moves and turnaround shots that go in is body control. All great shooters have that. They can be in the most awkward of positions when they shoot, but once they get in the air, the radar is locked and the shot is true no matter what the rest of the body is doing. As for any other aspect of their games, no. Jordan was better in nearly every way. An in-their-prime battle between a Jordan and a T-Mac or a Jordan and a Kobe would've been fun to watch though.
If there was any debate on this subject before, this finals series should settle it easily. Unless Kobe comes back and average 40 in three straight Lakers wins, he doesn't even belong in the discussion with Jordan.
Jordan - Best player in the history of the NBA and possibly the best player in any sport (tough to argue against Ali, Pele, etc. though) Kobe - Wasn't even the best player on his team until this year or last as Kazam is getting older and fatter. Kobe is probably not even the best player in the NBA right now, although the argument could be made.
Best none center certainly, and good (but not slam dunk) argument as overall the best player. Honestly I don't think anyone with a strait face could say Kobe is the best player today. The 3 best are pretty clearly KG, TD and Shaq--the order is debatable. Kobe or T-Mac is probably next, but they have to be the man on a successful playoff team first. Though I think they are better, neither has been able to accomplish even what Iverson or Kidd has. Kobe is just not close to the force on the court as TD, KG and Shaq. Again, Kobe belongs in the discussions with the Pippen's, Drexler's and Isiah's--great players they all were but players who history shows needed greater players or a loaded team to win titles. Kobe does not belong in the discussions with the Bird's, Magic's, Shaquille's & Hakeem's, and CERTAINLY not Micheal Jordan. The fact this debate is being had shows how many people forgot how dominant and relentless Micheal Jordan was on his opponents--what he did to guys like Drexler (arguable the 2nd best SG of his era) is certainly what he would do versus T-Mac or Kobe.
Some interesting stats from www.basketballreference.com Jordan: http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JORDAMI01 Bryant: http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BRYANKO01 Aside from Mike's first year, he averaged at least 30 ppg for each play-off season for his ENTIRE career. In fact, prior to his first retirement, he averaged the following in playoffs from the 1984/85 to 1992/93 seasons (absolutely sick): PPG: 34.68 RPG: 6.68 APG: 6.65 SPG: 2.32 BPG: 0.98 FG%: .501 From 1994/95 to 1997/98 (ie the "return"): PPG: 31.43 RPG: 6.04 APG: 4.18 SPG: 1.74 BPG: 0.72 FG%: .463 Of Kobe's 8 playoff seasons, including the current season, he's only had 2 (00/01 and 02/03) which you would be able to compare to Mike's.
Here's a list of Jordan's point range and number of times scored. If I remember correctly, this statistical snapshot was taken before Jordan's last year(s) in Washington. So, these numbers some games missing. But it should still give you an understanding of how prolific a scorer Jordan was during ALL of the Chicago Bull years. Point Range/Number of times achieved ------------------------------------------------------------ 0-9 pts: 1 time 10-19 pts: 81 times 20-29 pts: 311 times 30-39 pts: 172 times 40-49 pts: 165 times 50-69 pts: 30 times <---note: This has a 19 point range. Not a 9 point range like the others above. Not even Shaq has achived these kind of numbers!
This and munco's post should end the discussion. Why is someone who has never been the best player on his own team, much less the league, being compared with Michael Jordan?
Do you think if Jordan had Shaq on his team he would be considered the best player on the team? Who do you think the defense would concentrate more on?
Glad to see such good sense in this thread, especially on the heels of games 3&4. Jordan never but never would have taken those kinds of shots with Shaq in the post. He simply knew the game too well and loved winning too much. Shaq should have had 50 points last night.
Exactly. What Jordan would probably do is feed Shaq-fu like crazy to draw the double teams and create his own shot opportunities from that. He probably wouldn't score 32-35ppg like he did with the Bulls but 28-30PPG with a high FG% is not a stretch by anymeans.
