Why do people compare Kobe MJ?

[CeltsRoxfan]

It makes no sense, MJ never played with the handcheck rule, if he did he would have dropped 40 every game. MJ played in a more physical time than Kobe and he still achieved more. Mj did more in the finals and achieved more in his career.

Look at the achievements of MJ:

6-time NBA Champion
6-time NBA Finals MVP
5-time NBA MVP
7-time The Sporting News MVP
10 NBA Scoring Titles
3-time steals leader
14 NBA All-Star Selections
3-time NBA All-Star Game MVP
11 All-NBA Selections
9 All-Defensive First Team Selections
2-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion – 1987, 1988
NBA Rookie of the Year – 1984

How does Kobe stack up to that?

[Reggie's Ghost]

Because they're both super-talented, super-athletic shooting guards and egomaniacs who've won multiple titles with Phil Jackson?  Also, because the league and media have been desperately trying to recapture lightening in a bottle ever since MJ retired...

Otherwise the NBA's best days are behind it

[nickagneta]

Because Kobe wants them to.

[ManUp]

Because Kobe stole Jordan's swagger. Kobe has the style without the Substance. He is like Jordan's shadow their game takes the same form, but Kobe's missing the details.

[FallGuy]

Because Kobe stole Jordan's swagger. Kobe has the style without the Substance. He is like Jordan's shadow their game takes the same form, but Kobe's missing the details.

I hear what you're saying but you're completely wrong.

Kobe is the best player in the world and has been for the vast majority of the last decade. He's got four titles, MVP awards, the whole list of accomplishments we could dredge up to make his case. In no way, shape or form is he style without substance.

[guava_wrench]

It makes no sense, MJ never played with the handcheck rule, if he did he would have dropped 40 every game. MJ played in a more physical time than Kobe and he still achieved more. Mj did more in the finals and achieved more in his career.

Look at the achievements of MJ:

6-time NBA Champion
6-time NBA Finals MVP
5-time NBA MVP
7-time The Sporting News MVP
10 NBA Scoring Titles
3-time steals leader
14 NBA All-Star Selections
3-time NBA All-Star Game MVP
11 All-NBA Selections
9 All-Defensive First Team Selections
2-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion – 1987, 1988
NBA Rookie of the Year – 1984

How does Kobe stack up to that?

Better than anyone else.

Not an unreasonable comparison.

As a side not, ROY is irrelevant since Kobe came out of HS.

[guava_wrench]

Because Kobe stole Jordan's swagger. Kobe has the style without the Substance. He is like Jordan's shadow their game takes the same form, but Kobe's missing the details.

Is there a player in the NBA with more substance than Kobe? Duncan I guess. Maybe Shaq. At the level of those 3, it is hard to rank.

[Reyquila]

Kobe is compared to MJ, assuming that premise is founded on facts, the same way MJ is compared to LJ; LJ is compared to MJ; Magic Johnson was compared to Bird;
PP is compared to Kobe; PP is compared to LJ; Perkins is compared to Bynum, Rondo is compared to Nash. make if it whatever youu want, but I believe, the reason the presmise is why is Kobe compared to MJ is just a way to start some Kobe bashing in here. So get with it. IMHO, MJ was a unique, never to be compared talent, Lebron is also a unique never to be compared to talent, and Kobe is an unique never to be compared to talent; so was Magic Johnson, Bill Russell and Larry Bird. I personally leave it at that and it causes me no stress. lololol

[JBcat]

Kobe is like a poor man's MJ.

MJ is arguably the best player ever and Kobe is arguably in the top 20 all time.  

What other player really since MJ retired comes closer than Kobe if you were to compare anyone?   Nobody I can think of so the comparisons are going to happen.  

[Simulacra]

Who would you rather the Cs were playing against right now? That should answer this question.

Not to mention the level of competition MJ had to beat every year to make it to the finals, Kobe got to shoot around the world against a zone defense in the WCF for crying out loud. I really was routing for Dan Marjlee to come off the bench and lay down some thunder.

These comparisons are ridiculous. I cant even allow for a second any "oh they played in different eras etc" this era of the NBA is weaker by far, not different, just weaker unlike comparisons of the past. Nothing to do with the overall talent level it has to do more with competing and mindset versus getting payed. With unproven idiots like D. Howard doing interviews with themselves as Superman and Clark Kent. Working more on their acting skills for T-Mobile commercials than their games in the off season.

If the Lakers don't take home these finals, which they are not going to do, then I think you can put a huge asterisk on 09 and then what does Kobe have besides being Shaq's second fiddle? You want to somehow do that with any of MJ's rings? I don't think so.

[mgent]

To make Kobe look bad.

[fairweatherfan]

Kobe is like a poor man's MJ.

MJ is arguably the best player ever and Kobe is arguably in the top 20 all time.  

What other player really since MJ retired comes closer than Kobe if you were to compare anyone?   Nobody I can think of so the comparisons are going to happen.  

I don't think Kobe is arguably in the top 20 anymore because I don't think you can make a good case that he's not. 

Kobe's the most similar player to MJ to come along since he retired, but he's not nearly as good, which isn't really an insult either.  And due to coming out early and not leaving the game in his prime, Kobe'll probably wind up with better numbers than Jordan. 

[twinbree]

I have no idea. It's clear he's always going to fall short even as he tries so hard in that creepy stalker kind of way to re-live MJ's career. He'd probably been better off just being him because copying MJ just makes the disparity more obvious.

[ssspence]

Because Kobe wants them to.

exactly. which is why he imitates the way he walks, talks, shoots, *****, and everything else...

[GreenFaith1819]

Interesting Thread....

When Kobe won his three with Shaq, I recall Shaq having Monster numbers..I saw that in a thread earlier today.

Shaq averaged like 30+ pts, over 16 boards, nearly three blocks in those 3 Finals with Kobe?? Wow!

And the Laker Fans barely talk about Shaq......

In Kobe's defense, though (Gulp ), it can be said that Michael wouldn't have won those rings without Scotty.......

I would honestly have to rank Scotty Pippen as one of the top 10 SF/SG's of all time..man was a Defensive Stalwart and had a solid game overall.

Kobe is certainly a top 15-20 player of all time...maybe he is the closest thing to MJ right now. But Even Kobe tries to distance himself away from the Michael conversations.