Verdict: Jordan Final Verdict: Jordan Over Kobe However, I have to lean toward “His Airness” again for this category. When it comes to work ethic and the desire to win, Kobe and LeBron are the only two players that get mentioned in the same breath as Jordan. It’s been implied that they were difficult teammates on numerous occasions, but that same fire is what made them great, too.
Kobe did enough on the glass and in getting his teammates involved that they weren’t glaring omissions in his game, but he never reached the same peaks that Jordan did.īoth are legendary competitors. Kobe never even sniffed 7 assists or rebounds in a single season, which gives Jordan the edge again. Jordan’s peak in assists and rebounds occurred during the 1988-89 season, where he averaged 8 each. Jordan leads in these categories as well. He just didn’t have the stats to compete with Jordan on the defensive end. Kobe was no slouch on the defensive end either, compiling twelve All-Defense honors over his career. He averaged almost two and a half career steals and a block over his fifteen-year career and won Defensive Player of the Year in 1988. MJ was also 39 in his last season, while Kobe was 37 (although he did suffer a torn Achilles the prior year). Jordan was a better scorer in every benchmark we covered-even the final year of his career. Kobe (fifth season): 28.2 PPG (also 5th year in the league) Jordan averaged 5 more points than Kobe over their entire careers at 30.1 and 25 PPG, respectively. Look at their career average side-by-side. Let’s break down some key aspects of each player and compare their stats and overall accomplishments side by side. Their connection will always be very prevalent. Kobe also studied Jordan’s outside game, developing his patented fadeaway in his later years, essentially mimicking MJ. They both faced early criticisms about their game. Kobe was drafted by the Hornets, and Jordan became the franchise’s owner. Both won all their titles with Phil Jackson as their coach. MJĪs you can see, both players had storied NBA careers with some eerie commonalities. Jordan is now an owner of the Charlotte Hornets and continues to be an integral part of the NBA landscape. While many remember this stint as a fall from greatness, Jordan still averaged 23 and 20 points, respectively, and made two more All-Star appearances. Jordan returned (again!) in 2001 to play two years with the Wizards. His accolades continued to pile up, winning MVP awards eleven years apart, displaying his greatness over a decade. After a brief stint playing baseball, Jordan came back and rattled off three more titles before hanging it up a second time. The Bulls would win two more in a row, leading to Jordan’s shocking retirement from the sport. That all changed in 1991, when the Bulls won their first title, beating the Lakers. Career Snapshot: Michael Jordan (1984-1998, 2001-03, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards) Fittingly, they were heading to his daughter’s basketball game, where Kobe was her coach.
He and his daughter were tragically killed in a helicopter accident. He started a production company and even became the first African-American to win a Best Animated Short Oscar for ‘Dear Basketball.’ Bryant also excelled in the entertainment world. He began mentoring younger players, including Trae Young and Jayson Tatum, and became softer after retirement. His final game is legendary in its own right: Kobe put up 60 points, the 6th 60-point game of his career, in his farewell game, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history and one of the top three beloved Lakers ever.Īfter Bryant’s career ended, he became a renaissance man of sorts. He never got a chance to play for another title after this, but he still excelled on the court until his retirement. This all changed in 2009 as the Lakers captured repeat titles behind Kobe’s leadership. Bryant upped his scoring average and won his only MVP in 2008 but still hadn’t won an NBA title without O’Neal.
By 2004, Shaq was gone-the Lakers became Kobe’s team. He was often overshadowed by Shaq, with critics wondering if Kobe could win a title on his own.
His Lakers team, led by him and NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, were in the midst of a three-peat. By year four, however, he was putting up almost 30 points a game. Bryant’s career started slowly, especially during his first two years. He never played a minute for Charlotte as he was traded immediately to the Lakers on draft night. Kobe Bryant burst onto the scene in 1996, coming out of high school to be drafted 13th to the Charlotte Hornets. Career Stats: 25 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1346 games played
0 kommentar(er)
