That's why I can't give the title to Kobe being better than Jordan. MJ played in a league with a prime Bird, Magic, Wilkins, Moses, Barkley, McHale, Dream, Ewing, Stockton, Malone, Miller, Clyde, Shaq, Mourning, Mutombo, Payton, KJ, Robinson, young Hardaway, and etc. He was the best player in the NBA for most of his career, during probably what could be considered the era of Big Men and fast paced offenses. Where teams could actually play defense... Also, if people are saying Kobe is behind Jordan, is Kobe really better than Bird, Magic, Wilt, Russell, Dream, and even Shaq? I would take all of those players over Kobe Bryant in heart beat....
someone else as old as me who remembers Oscar? You finally gave him a mention. Good catch man! He gives up nothing to Magic in my opinion, just from another era and not as well known now.
anyone who wouldn't take Jordan with their first pick isn't being rational...Jordan is/was/and will be (for the foreseeable future) the best NBA player of all time.
You have no perspective of the past, when they are players like Magic, Larry, Wilt, Oscar, and Kareem out there. Jordan is probably the best player in NBA history, but it is definitely a nailbiter. If someone said one of the other players, I could understand why. Kareem has 6 MVPs and was totally unstoppable in his first 7 seasons in the league. Larry might have been best shooter ever and clutch performer, too. Oscar might have been most versatile, no other player has ever averaged as many assist, rebounds, and points in the way Oscar did. Magic was probably greatest passer and ballhandler there was, and he won 5 NBA titles and 3 MVPs and a few Finals MVPs. Wilt ....those 4 letters speak for themselves, this man averaged 50 ppg for a whole season and had a few years over 40 ppg, and most of his scoring averages fail in between 30 and 40 ppg. He leads all time in reboundings pg for career.
