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I have been with the Standard Democrat sports department since 2007. I took over as sports editor in May of 2011 and have been slightly crazy about sports since I can remember. I attended Southeast Missouri State University and Scott County Central High School. I co-created our sports web show "The Last Word" and my two children, Elijah and CJ. I was married to my wife, Angie, in May of 2014. I love to golf, I am an avid NBA2K gamer and root for the Fighting Irish on Saturdays.

MJ or Kobe? Fair to compare?

Posted Friday, May 17, 2013, at 10:33 AM

Is this really a question?

As you may have heard or read, Phil Jackson came out with a new book and what everyone has been fixated on is how he compares Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in almost every aspect. I can see the draw here. Obviously, you have two very accomplished NBA players who were/are the very best during their careers and who would know better than the Zen master.

You can read excerpts from Jackson's book here: http://articles.latimes.com/2013/may/16/sports/la-sp-phil-jackson-kobe-20130516

But when you talk about comparing the two, can you really compare anyone to MJ? Isn't it a little unfair to Kobe, or any other player for that matter, to have that humongous cloud hovering over them?

Any comparison drawn to Michael Jordan will fall short. Period.

For our generation there's no one who took over a game, the nation or even the world like MJ did. He never lost in a championship series and was the quintessential leader. He's the only basketball player that you or I have ever known that when he drives to the basket or pulls up for a jumper, there's no doubt it's hitting the bottom of the net. Especially in the closing minutes.

As you can maybe tell, I'm a huge, HUGE, MJ fan. I've got the basketball cards, the DVD's and any other memorabilia you can think of. I'm stacked. However, I completely understand how anyone could make a case for Kobe, Lebron or any other basketball player when stating their opinion on who is the better basketball player.

I know comparisons are what us as sports fans do. We love to state our case on who the better player is with stats and situations to further prove it.

But, I also know that you cant' compare apples to greatness, which is what happens when you throw anyone in the ring with His Airness.

More from this blogger · Chris Pobst

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What happened to the bulls when Jordan left for that year? Still won 47 games(55 year before) and made the playoffs. What happened to Lebron when he left the Cavs? They won 16 games! 16! (66 year before!) To say you can't compare either of these to MJ is ignorant. Not MJ not Kobe or Jesus could not have taken the '08 Cavs to the NBA finals. All we can do right now is sit back and witness history

-- Posted by Bill Shakespeare on Fri, May 17, 2013, at 11:30 AM
I like this comparison. I think Kobe is a better shooter than MJ from the 3-point stripe but that is about the only advantage he has. They have a very similar skill-set and both are/were money in crunch time. MJ was quicker and a lot better defensive player. MJ always had Pippen to shoulder some of the ball-handling load. Kobe has been surrounded by great talent as well, but has done most of the ball-handling duties. I also think MJ made his teammates better than what Kobe has.

I don't think it is an unfair comparison. They are very similar, but I definitely give the edge to Jordan, but not by a landslide. LeBron is very, VERY quickly working his way into this discussion as well, if he hasn't already. I'd like to see LeBron maintain greatness in the playoffs for a few more years. He can't have anymore disappearing acts like he did two years ago in the Finals against the Mavs. Jordan or Kobe would NEVER do that. That's where the greats separate themselves from the rest.

-- Posted by semohoops on Fri, May 17, 2013, at 12:19 PM
Good point Bill. If LeBron's value can be measured, just look what has happened to the Cavs the year after he left. An NBA championship contender to the worst team in the league. But I also think the Cavs never had the talent to support him. Similar to Jordan's Bulls of the 80s. He led those teams to the playoffs, but with early first round exits. You take Jordan from those teams and they collapse as well. Kobe has never faced this as he has been on good teams his whole career.

-- Posted by semohoops on Fri, May 17, 2013, at 12:22 PM
It was actually the year 2007 when the Cavs were swept by San Antonio in the finals and yes, MJ, in his prime, could have led that Cavs team to the NBA finals, without a doubt. Lebron may end up being considered the best of all time. That would be fine with me. I love Lebron. But, as of right now, the present, no comparison can be made between Lebron and MJ. Micheal Jordan is the greatest competitor/player of the group, at this time. The Bulls dominated the league during his prime. Had he not played baseball, the would have won 8 straight titles.

-- Posted by jwhitlock on Fri, May 17, 2013, at 12:46 PM
There's no comparison MJ played in a different era in the game. Not saying Lebron couldn't have played back then and been succesfull but he sure wouldn't have taken it to the rack every time and not been put through the floor after a couple times of doing it.

-- Posted by BIGELW on Fri, May 17, 2013, at 1:48 PM
Actually that happens today. Did you watch the Bulls play tackle football against LeBron? I don't recall Jordan ever getting beat to death like that. It seems there was more respect for the game back then, but you had exceptions with the Pistons "Bad Boy" teams and the Knicks of the 90s.

The biggest difference in the game back then and now is that there are no dominant centers. The game has evolved to where many of the top centers are face-up shooters rather than back-to-the-basket post up guys. If we say Dwight Howard is the best center in the game today, where would he rank in the 90s at that position? Sixth? Seventh?

My opinion

1. Hakeem the Dream

2. The Admiral

3. Shaq

4. Ewing

5. Zo Mourning

6. Dwight Howard (He's just not in the league of those top 4. He's closer to Mourning)

7. Mt. Mutombo

8. Rik Smits

-- Posted by semohoops on Fri, May 17, 2013, at 2:44 PM
Hoops I have never heard that moniker of the admiral so I don't know who that is but I think your missing 2-4 great centers you are omitting

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, May 17, 2013, at 2:52 PM
Never mind Hoops just saw that 90s qualifier so I rescind my critique

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, May 17, 2013, at 2:55 PM
Dwight Howard is NOT better than any center on that list in my opinion. Alonzo Mourning was much better than Howard when you consider intangibles and such. Mutombo and Howard are probably most similar because they could both play defense but were somewhat limited offensively. But I'd take Mutombo. Rik Smits could score with his back to the basket and he could also stretch the floor. Smits is one of the best shooting big men ever, and he could pass. I would not take Howard over any of these guys.

Good post though Hoops. I like this kind of discussion.

-- Posted by jwhitlock on Fri, May 17, 2013, at 2:57 PM
The Admiral is David Robinson

Howard is more potent offensively than Mutombo so I would take Howard over Mutombo.

Yeah, if I include best centers of all time obviously Chamberlain is tops on the list. Russell is in the top handful. Elvin Hayes, Tim Duncan, Nate Thurmond, Bob Lanier, Bill Walton, Willis Reed...all in the discussion.

-- Posted by semohoops on Fri, May 17, 2013, at 3:03 PM
Howard scored more points, no doubt there. I would have to say that Howard, although somewhat inept offensively, is still superior to Howard.(retracting the earlier statement I made about them) Mutombo developed into a better free throw shooter.

Howard, on potential is as good as anybody, but he's too immature right now to take advantage of that potential, and he's been hurt some.

-- Posted by jwhitlock on Fri, May 17, 2013, at 3:33 PM
Here's my opinion back when MJ played I wouldn't miss a game on tv because I loved to watch him play now I don't watch it at all its boring to me now. I don't care about the stats I just liked his showmanship !

-- Posted by TFA on Fri, May 17, 2013, at 4:12 PM
I would take Jackie Moon over Dwight Howard!!!! Whammy!!!

-- Posted by Champ Kind on Fri, May 17, 2013, at 4:23 PM
I'll take Coffee Black and Ed Monix who was definitely worth the washing machine.

-- Posted by jwhitlock on Fri, May 17, 2013, at 4:55 PM
Ed Monix goes number two only to Jesus Shuttlesworth in a fantasy fantasy draft

-- Posted by Bill Shakespeare on Fri, May 17, 2013, at 5:04 PM
If you go back and read my post, I stated "you had exceptions with the Pistons "Bad Boy" teams and the Knicks of the 90s."

But I disagree that LeBron would have struggled in that era. With his combination of speed, size, and strength, he would have been just fine. I don't fault LeBron for joining two other stars. He never had the supporting cast that the other greats had. MJ had a top 50 teammate in Pippen along with other strong supporting teammates. Bird had a whole lineup of hall of fame talent on his teams. Magic had a whole lineup of hall of fame talent on his teams. People seem to forget that it took a while for Jordan to win his first title too. Seven years I believe? They had to get the team built around him, along with finding a diamond in the rough with Pippen in pulling off a massive lopsided trade to get him in hindsight. LeBron was never going to get that support in Cleveland, so I don't blame him one bit for going to Miami. People don't fault Garnett for wanting out of Minnesota and essentially forcing a trade. He is hailed now.

-- Posted by semohoops on Mon, May 20, 2013, at 8:47 AM

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