Who's Better - Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant?
Just the Facts Please, Just the Facts
There are the Kobe-lovers and Jordan-lovers, and it's fun to talk about which player is really better with a beer in hand and the game on the tube. But an objective look at the facts leaves only one conclusion: There is no doubt. Michael Jordan was the better player, with the better stats, and the greater achievements.Despite what the Kobe-lovers may think about such a seemingly one-sided statement, we need only look at offensive output and defensive outut by career and individual season to see that MJ gets the nod.
Just because in 2008 we are able to witness Kobe's amazing athletic feats live on HD flat screens everywhere, it doesn't mean that Kobe compares favorably to MJ simply because many younger fans never saw Jordan play live.
Here are the facts...
Offensive Output: Jordan Has the Numbers
Scoring, assists, rebounds...
Defensive Output: Jordan Comes Out on Top
Again, whether looking at steals, blocked shots or rebounds - by career or overall best season - Jordan is the man.What many who never saw MJ play fail to realize is that he was one of the most feared defenders in the league. He had a way of disarming his opponents with smiles, jokes and back-slaps, just before the whistle blew and he once again stole the ball from an opponent who was suddenly not laughing.
Jordan was the rare offensive master who was also so effective on defensive, in 1988.
Career Achievements: Jordan Takes the Gold Ring (Literally)
Michael Jordan played on an NBA Championship team six times, Kobe, three. The 2008 Championship series didn't help make the case for Kobe either. Certainly, being able to lead a team to the Big Prize must be one of the most important characteristics in a truly great player.
Jordan was also voted NBA League MVP six times. That's five more than Kobe, and speaks to Jordan's all around abilities and ability to lead and inspire his team.
Jordan was named as NBA All-Star 14 times to Kobe's 10. But Kobe still appears to be going strong, and it was Kobe who set a recored for youngest player ever to achieve All Star status.
As already noted, Jordan was not just a great offensive threat but a great defender as well. Rarely does a truly great offensive player receive Defensive Player of the Year honors as MJ did in '88.
Then there were Jordan's two Olympic Gold Medals. Kobe's not there yet either.
Poll Time! Michael Jordan Versus Kobe Bryant All Time
OK You Voted - But What Do You Think?
Here's your chance to weigh in on the whole Kobe vs. Michael debate!
So who is it? Who's better and why?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byMJ is the Man
So Real says:
Because of quotes like these:
NBA Coaches Quotes:
Chuck Daly –
• “What happens is he clicks on and the ball is his, the game is his and he will go on a tear that usually isn’t seen in this league very often.”
• “It doesn’t entail me playing you necessarily; it’s our “five” playing “you”.” Jordan Rules?
• “Well first off you starting talking about the fact that the “Guy” is literally embarrassing the league, he’s that good.”
George Karl – “He’s a winner. You’re going to have to cut Michael Jordan’s heart out to beat him.”
Paul WestPhal – “We can’t stop him; I never said we can stop him, no one can stop him.” After his Phoenix Suns lost to the Chicago Bulls in the 1993 NBA Finals.”
Posted November 23, 2009
So Real says:
Because of quots like these:
NBA Players Quotes:
Magic Johnson –
• “He’s special and I think there are only a few players that come around that are special.”
• “This is what you live for to play Michael Jordan in the final.” And we all know what happened.”
• “You had two players that excite you playing on the floor myself and Larry and now here come “one” that excite you playing in the air.”
• This guy is an “Icon” he’s a one man show and how much we’re going to miss him you can’t even put in words.”
Bill Russell – I guess what impressed me the most is that he is determined to be Michael Jordan every night. I never got the impression that he throw his shoes or uniform on and took the night off.”
Clyde Drexler –
• “He’s a Pros Pro, I mean even we like to watch him play when we’re not playing against him.”
• “He’s a winner, he plays to win and he just doesn’t play to do all the fancy things.”
Danny Ainge – “He can do so many things. He’s the only player in the league that I can think of that has no weaknesses.”
Mitch Richmond –
• “He plays above the rim; I mean some of the moves he makes it seem as if you guys are still in high school.”
• “It doesn’t matter whose guarding him or whose there Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, etc., he’s going to the basket. “
Joe Dumars –
• “I think he’s going to be okay the time before us, now and twenty years down the line. He’s going to be something that people look at and say he’s unbelievable.”
• “95% of the plays are for Michael Jordan and the other 5% ends up in his hands anyways.”
• “You become consume that he’s on the court and if you make a mistake it’s not even a question whether or not you’re going to get burnt, you’re burnt already.”
Kevin Johnson –
• “He defies odds and still comes up with the big baskets time and time again.”
• “He dominates the game on the offensive end of the court, but he also dominates the game on the defensive end of the court.”
• “He makes it looks so easy; he’s so graceful, like a ballerina.”
Buck Williams – “People always talk about Magic Johnson and Larry Bird’s passing ability, but not too often do people recognizes Michael Jordan for the exceptional passer that he is.”
Bill Laimbeer – “He’s the ultimate test for “Our” defense.”
Dennis Rodman – “If you can defense Michael Jordan, then you can defense anything in the league, anything in the World.”
Tim Hardaway – “I like his in your face dunk; he just comes down and slams it in someone’s face.”
Horace Grant – There is no hangtime, like Michael Jordan’s hangtime.”
Glen Rice – “He’s a “Great” defender, rebounder, shot blocker and definitely can score, he’s the total package.”
Grant Hill – “He’s the “Ultimate” player in my eyes. If there were a player in the Webster’s Dictionary then it would have to be a picture of Michael Jordan.”
Isiah Thomas – “I remember looking directly in his eyes and it was like whatever you do, whatever you say, we’re going to beat you. And once you get him like that all you can do is move aside because there’s no stopping this freight train.” After a four game sweep by the Chicago Bulls in the playoffs.
Johnny “Red” Kerr – “It’s an unbelievable sight to be pulling into a hotel at 3:00 a.m. in the morning and you turn around the corner and all of a sudden the whole street is lit up as if a movie was been shot, but it’s just fans hoping to get a glimpse of Michael Jordan because the Chicago Bulls were arriving.”
David Robinson – “Michael Jordan seems to have a little magic with him, it’s exciting, it’s fun to watch and it’s the stuff that “legends” are made of.”
Posted November 23, 2009
So Real says:
Because of quotes like these:
Michael Air Jordan – The Greatest Basketball Player Ever
Famous Americans Quotes:
Bill Clinton, Former President –
• “In my life, I don’t know if I ever saw another athlete with such a remarkable set of qualities of mind, body and spirit.”
• “The economy has produced 6.1 million jobs since I became President and if Michael Jordan goes back to the Chicago Bulls it will be 6 millions 1 hundred thousand and 1 new jobs.”
David Stern –
• “You are simply the “Standard” by which basketball excellence is measured.”
• “In a league of stars and a game of stars, “You” are the star of stars. Congratulation on being the 1998 All-Star MVP.”
David Halberstam, Author – “He’s an American Original. If a friend from Europe comes to me and say I’m in your country what do I see, I would say well go to the Grand Canyon and then go to Chicago and watch Michael Jordan play, he’s who we are.”
William Goldman, Screen Writer – “You might see something if you watched him that you haven’t seen before and will never see again.”
Bob Costas, NBC Sports –
• “He has a force of personality that’s not the same thing as sports talent but elevates that talent and if you didn’t know anything about basketball and he walked in the room, you would say that’s somebody that’s has to be somebody.”
• “He’s the most tenacious competitor, add that to his physical gifts and he has a sense of history and a sense of what his legacy can be if he keeps pushing it. Something about this guy, so likeable, so dignified and classy and yet with the athletic heart of an assassin.”
• “His game is beautiful to watch, not just affective in an athletic sense, but theatrically he is beautiful. He has that presence, there is something about him.”
Phil Taylor, Sports Illustrated – “He was so good, so charismatic that whatever he did suddenly became popular and became cool.”
Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated – “The one thing about Michael Jordan that makes him the most remarkable athletic that I’ve ever seen and probably ever will see is that he was always better than the hype, okay and now he is hyped even more, but he gets better and better. And I have never seen anything like it.”
Ahmad Rashad, NBC Sports – He’s blessed with so many God given abilities and then his own self drive that makes him even better than that is something that takes him off the scale.”
Jerry West – “For Michael Jordan, once the burden of winning a championship was gone, he just soared to even greater heights and it’s just hard to even imagine.”
Posted November 23, 2009
JORDAN! says:
Anyone that is old enough to have watched both these players know there is no comparison. Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. Kobe Bryant had alot of growing pains in the NBA and was a selfish player for a long time and did not make his teammates better.
Jordan however always made his teammates better and was the best defensive player in the NBA for a long time also.
Not only the stats but the intangibles Jordan crushes Kobe. Kobe is a wonderful player, HOF player. But he is no where near Michael Jordan.
Posted November 20, 2009
the truth says:
don't get me wrong kobe is a very skilled player without a question unguardable...But Michael was a offensive assasin who played against much better and physical defense than kobe...when michael took the floor there was no respect shown at all...every player he played against came at him hard...there was hand checking and much more physical defense and mike destroyed people nightly...NBA players today play no defense and they show to much respect and the best dont even guard the best anymore you can't barely even touch anybody anymore kobe has it easy...not to mention mike retired and still won 6 in a decade came back as a 38 year old and still destroyed people...people compairing jordan and kobe's accomplishments by age..you can't do..kobe came in the league much earlier...if you want to compare that than compare the two at 40...check the stats you tell me who's stats are more impressive career wise only one that sticks out kobe has on michael is who scored more points in a game but michaels 69 points 18 rebounds 6 assist and 4 steals was better than 81 and 2 assists and 6 rebounds...kobe's 81 is unheard of but it almost looked fixed with that defense toronto played
Posted November 20, 2009
Bob says:
I think Kobe is a better baseball player
Posted November 19, 2009
Kobe is the Man
BIGDADDY says:
To say that MJ played against more physical defenses is really a bogus statement. MJ played when isolation was the norm. Illegal defense was so complicated, most didn't give true double teams. Kobe is doubled and tripled with regularity. If you think it is more physical to go one on one with one physical guy, than to face doubles and triples game in and game out, you are fooling yourself. But that doesn't surprise me, because a lot of you guys are like sheep and believe whatever the media tells you. Learn the game and then you will know for yourself. MJ was ushered into his stardom by Nike and the Commish. He was still a great player, but a great player with "benefits". Kobe does it, even though most of them despise him. And for those that buy into the "Whah, Kobe was selfish for years", that is the most stupid argument ever by MJ fans. LA doesn't get any of it's titles, if not for Kobe. It wasn't Shaq that's for sure. You could't even leave him on the court come crunch time. Again, MJ had skills, but Kobe's are just better.
Posted November 22, 2009
Simon says:
because kobe is little bit better on offense, but wit hout Jordan, there is no Kobe, because most Kobe's move comes from Jordan
Posted November 19, 2009
Jonathan says:
Kobe is becoming the better student of the game. He realizes his entire career has been under a more powerful microscope than Jordan was. By the end of Kobe's career, he might not be as accomplished as Jordan, but he certainly took approached it the best way possible. I'm just excited to see where Kobe's career is heading.
Posted November 19, 2009
BIGDADDY says:
Kobe is the best 2 guard ever, hands down. Most skilled player ever, if you know anything about basketball. MJ was nice, but Kobe is twice as nice. Kobe held his own against MJ in his first all-star game. Mike knew he couldn't hang with that much longer (retired second time). Kobe would have the MVP's now, if the voters weren't hating, especially after the Colo. debacle. Should have had 2 of Shaq's finals MVP's (couldn't even count on Shaq in crunch time). He will get the total rings, barring injury. Best 2, hands down.
Posted November 11, 2009
kobee says:
mama their goes that man kobe bryant! hands down the best kobe... its like saying who were better soldiers the soldier from world war 1 or from now??? NBA is way harder now than in MJs day but mike is still 2 best of all time after kobe leaves the NBA
Posted November 08, 2009
luke says:
Kobe came out of high school, so if you take away his first 3 seasons his averages would be closer. Also defences are much smarter these days, with coaches and players watching more tapes. Kobe has only missed the playoffs once so far in his career. Plus he should have atleast 3 MVP already, nash should never have won one when kobe averaged 36 a game.
Posted November 05, 2009
For Kobe Fans...
Kobe Bryant Jersey: adidas Gold Replica #24 Los Angeles Lakers Jersey
Amazon Price: (as of 11/28/2009) 
Kobe Bryant Youth Jersey: adidas Purple Replica #24 Los Angeles Lakers Jersey
Amazon Price: (as of 11/28/2009)
Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers 2008 MVP T-shirt
Amazon Price: (as of 11/28/2009)
For MJ Fans...
NBA: Ultimate Jordan (20th Anniversary Three-Disc Collector's Edition)
Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 11/28/2009)
Michael Jordan: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies)
Amazon Price: $28.00 (as of 11/28/2009)
Read More on the Kobe Versus MJ Debate
Comparison of the two great athletes when they were each 22 years old.
The Gretest Basketball Player Ever
One writer's point of view, from the LA Sentinel.
Kobe Bryant May Be Better Than Michael Jordan
Another take on Kobe's overall, and recent, performance.
Squidoo Member Comments
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Reply
- quils7 quils7 Oct 15, 2009 @ 11:45 pm
- Michael Jordan has an edge but Kobe's career is not quite finished yet so don't hold your breaths folks, he has just won an Olympic Gold and another Championship Ring ... Hopefully, there are more to come.
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Reply
- rydigga rydigga May 23, 2009 @ 7:09 pm
- Very nice lens. MJ is definitely better although Kobe is a tremendous talent. I think that Lebron can rival MJ by the time the championships start rolling in. He does many of the same things as Jordan except he's 6-9 and 270 and a better passer.
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Reply
- Dec 10, 2008 @ 9:16 am
- Michael Jordan is better than Kobe Bryant. Everyone know that! :)
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Reply
- Jesi Jesi Nov 21, 2008 @ 5:08 pm
- Nice lens about Michael Jodan and Kobe Bryant, Wherease I think, Jordan it best
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Reply
- Matthew_Ferry Matthew_Ferry Jun 30, 2008 @ 2:37 am
- Michael Jordan is far far far more better than Kobe Bryant..and that's the fact =)
Great Lens..I enjoy it much..5 awesome stars for this lens..
by Curious100
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