Kobe Bryant Isn't Michael Jordan, but He's At Least Clyde Drexler

Do you mean if Jordan wasn't playing ball Glide would be considered the best SG, or the idea that Jordan being in his prime limited what we could have seen from Drexler, since he didnt win a ring in Portland?

 

I see at least one person here thinks "Doin' Work" was a real documentary.

 

except that drexler isnt a arrogant prick

 

Kobe is better scorer, shooter. He is in no way better defender than Clyde was.

 

Exactly. But as someone pointed out Drexler was a slasher and with today's rules he would excell in scoring. Of course, we'll never know..

 

Does Kobe do anything other than shoot and handle the ball better than Clyde?

 

Good analysis.

I also wanted to add that Drexler was stronger and also a better post up player. He scored a bunch of points posting up smaller guards and also small forwards. At the time, him, Jordan, and Mitch Richmond were the 3 guards who could use their strength and push you around in the block. Kobe is a perimeter oriented player. He does not rely as much on his post game.

As you have already mentioned, Clyde was the better defender, although not my much. Kobe is a bit more fiesty and imho, gambles a lot more but Clyde had a nasty side to him as well. He was stronger and a better post defender against small forwards. Both play the passing lanes well and both are pesky help defenders.

Clyde was a better teammate and understood how to get everyone involved. He was definately the better passer and rebounder and as you have mentioned, he was a one man fast break. His fast break absolutely killed the Magic in the 95 finals. They had no answer for him

Kobe, however, is miles ahead when it comes to perimeter game. IMO, the only player with a better combination of elevation, separation, and accuracy when it comes to jump shots in the history of the game has been Jordan. Because of this Kobe is the player you want in the last 5 minutes of the game or if you want someone to take the last shot in the game.

Clyde might be a better overall player (not by much) but I would take Kobe because of that consistent jumpshot. It is what makes him special and one of the most dangerous closers in the history of the game.

IMO, Clyde's game has more similarities to Lebron's game than Kobe. Both are drivers, slashers, fast break machine, dunkers, strong guards with great court awareness, with suspect jumpshots. Lebron is obviously better.

Michael Jordan was a better version of Kobe Bryant while Lebron James is a better version of Clyde Drexler.

 

Drexler was a very talented player. He did however suffer from the same thing Dream did, which was lack of marketability. They did not have the "superstar" personalities. They simply played to win and for the love of the game. They didn't really care for all the commercials and shoe deals.

Hakeem was the best player in the NBA when Jordan was retired, yet it took him winning 2 titles before anybody really noticed. On the court, they were great and any NBA players or GM's from the 80's and 90's would tell you that.

Its just that from a fans standpoint overall, they will always be a little underrated compared to Jordan, Shaq, Barkley, Magic, and other more outspoken and well marketed players.

Drexler was also unfortunate to have played in the same era as Jordan for the majority of his career. Had Hakeem had to play against Kareem or Wilt in their primes, he would be what Robert Parish or Willis Reed is historically. He would be remembered, but just not as a top 5 center of all time. I think the same happened to Drexler, Dumars, and Reggie Miller, all who peaked while Jordan was either a scoring/dunking/DPOY (80's) or the championship Jordan (90's).

All of those guys were very talented players. I think Drexler was the most versatile overall. Dumars was the best defender and playmaker, while Miller was easily the best shooter and most clutch player. The problem is, Jordan did all of those things, except shoot 3's well, and he wasn't quite as big as Drexler to rebound as well. But he was more versatile offensively than Drexler, just as good a defender as Dumars, and even more clutch than Reggie Miller. He was simply too good.


In my opinion as far as schooting guards go, Jordan is obviously #1 and Jerry West or Oscar Robertson is #2, can't really go wrong with either one. But after that, you could put any of these guys after this just depending on if you want pure scorer or if you value versatility more. I'm sure there are a few left off because I didn't watch basketball back in the 50's or 60's or even 70's. But most of these guys are capable of being in the top 10 shooting guards of all time. I think Drexler is one of the easier decisions on this list for that.

This just in order from oldest to newest, not best or worst.


Hal Greer
John Havliceck,
Rick Barry
David Thompson
George Gervin
Joe Dumars
Clyde Drexler,
Mitch Richmond
Reggie Miller
Joe Dumars
Kobe Bryant
Dwayne Wade

 

I mean Drexler was the second best SG in his prime simply because Jordan was in his prime too. There was a gap between these two guys and the rest of the field.

It has nothing to do with winning championships. If Jordan didn't have Pippen and other important pieces on his team, he might not have won so many.

 

+1.

Kobe might match Clyde in talent and maybe even surpass him but his cockiness will never make him as likable.

 

So LeBron is the rich man's Drexler and Kobe is the poor man's Jordan?

 

I'm obviously in the minority but I don't remember Clyde being more than an average defender except maybe at the end of his career when he turned into an 18/6/6 guy in Houston.

Is my memory bad?

 

Even outside of that video, he's on his teammates all game long. He just started doing this the past couple of season. Don't let the hate cloud your judgment.

 

Yes. I would say so.

 

It's not hate. It's watching the guy elbow, shove and yell at his own guys on the bench. How is that leading? I know he talks to guys on the court but they usually walk away looking hurt or angry so I doubt there is a whole lot of leadership going on there.

But I'm glad you thought it was real.

 

Jordan did the same during and after his career. Was he not a leader? Are you saying because he yells at teammates and shoves them, he's not a leader? Should he have put them in timeout?

Why would you be glad? That just sounds like something a 3rd grader would say.

I also watched the Rockets series and the Nuggets series against the Lakers when no "documentary" was being filmed... he acted the same way on the court.

 

I think Clyde was good in the post because of his strength, not really because of any moves he employed. Kobe does go into the post quite a bit. He's actually pretty damn good in there against smaller guards. If he's a bit far from the hoop, he'll pull out the mini dream-shake into his fadeaway, and if he's nearer, he'll pull out some other moves, most notably spinning into his guy's space and banking it in. He's pretty damn good down there.

 

Please find an example of Jordan elbowing or grabbing team mates by the back of the head during games. Where did Jordan's name ever come up here anyway? Shouldn't we compare Kobe to other players who have nice stats but have never lead a team to a Championship?

Can't a guy be happy that at least one person liked a movie that I'm sure plenty of people worked hard on?

Really? I saw a completely different player in those games (and most games) than I did in the documentary. Actually, you're about the only person I know of (media included who tends to like Kobe a lot) that thinks the movie was even remotely accurate of how Kobe usually acts.

 

I don't know who brought up Jordan's name either but you obviously don't know much about Michael Jordan or have bad memory.

Jordan called out several teammates and did things not even Kobe would dare to try. Check out the book JORDAN RULES.

Michael Jordan vs. Will Perdue and Steve Kerr
MID 1990s
Michael Jordan connected on two punches with teammates that, um, left their marks. The first came in 1991 when former center Will Perdue set off Jordan badly enough that Jordan hit Perdue in the head. Both apologized afterward and Perdue joked that "no permanent damage was done." He realized it might have been resolved differently if Jordan had been the one hit in the head. "I had to realize who I was, and who he was," Perdue said.

The second came in the 1995-96 season when a frustrated Jordan unloaded on former Bulls guard Steve Kerr, leaving Kerr with a black eye. "I was Chuck Wepner. He was Muhammad Ali," Kerr cracked later in an interview.

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People forget that Michael was one of the biggest pricks in his era especially late 80's early 90's... which is why I hated him so much and loved Drexler for being the exact opposite when I was growing up. With that said I think he truly is the GOAT partly because he is a dick. Much like Kobe is... Kinda like how Lebron is.. in regards to how he didn't shake hands or address the media.

 

clyde had mad hops. kobe not so much. decent but nothing special.

as many others have said. clyde is more versatile and kobe is a better scorer.

you also have to take into consideration that the league wasnt so guard friendly during clyde's era. kobe is pampered.

it's hard to say who is better. they need to stop making these comparisons.

i am inclined to say that 80's/early 90's guards rank all over the current guards tho. just b/c they all seemed to have freakish athleticism and a good
head on their shoulders as far as the game is concerned.

how about guards from 1984-1996 vs. 1997-current??