Michael Jordan Would Take Kobe Bryant in His Prime
By Larry Brown August 1, 2008 - Posted in Basketball

I wasn’t too happy when people started drumming up all the Kobe/MJ comparisons during the playoffs this year. Many folks in the media were prematurely anticipating Kobe winning his fourth ring. As I’ve said before, Kobe’s Kobe and MJ’s MJ. They both have been the best basketball player in the entire world at one point or another in their lives. Isn’t that good enough? Well, just for all you curious folks out there, Michael Jordan answered the question of a camper at his Flight School at UCSB. Who could take who, Michael Jordan, or Kobe Bryant? Let’s find out what His Airness said:

Come on, did you really expect anything less of him — especially in front of his campers?? As for the debate at hand, MJ will always be the best in my eyes. That is, until the next Michael Jordan comes around, of course.

About Larry Brown:
Larry Brown has over nine years of professional sports media experience, working in online, radio, and TV capacities. He recently was a nationally syndicated sports radio host. Follow him on twitter @LBSports
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25 Comments
  • http://www.UCLAradio.com the driver

    one the coolest videos that I have ever seen

  • Ace

    There will never be another Jordan. In skill, yes… but Jordan was much more than skills. He created a culture around his skills, which in my opinion made him even greater than if he was just about skills. Who doesn’t remember thos jordan/jackson commercials? Or with spike lee? People still clamor for his shoes… Jordan was the right player to come along, at the right time.

    And I agree, def. a cool video. Almost as good as the “Failure” nike commercial

  • http://www.aol.com xrism

    Jordan had 5 losing seasons without Pippen 84, 85, 86 Bulls and 2001, 2002 Wizards for a combined winning percentage of .443% and won a whopping ONE playoff game playing in the JV Conference. Missing the playoffs 2 times in those 5 seasons. In fact Scottie Pippen had gone further in the playoffs without MJ than MJ has gone without Pippen.

    Jordan’s competition. The Pistons were done after 91, Celtics were in decline and done in 92 and the Lakers dismantled after the Finals in 91. So until 1998, His competition was the Pacers, Hawks, Knicks, Cavs, and Heat. And they are hardly Kobe’s Western Conference that has produced 9 out of the last 10 MVPs and 7 of the last 9 Championships.

    As for the teams. Those teams I just mentioned are NOTHING compared to what Kobe played against over this past decade. The Spurs, The Kings, (2000-2004), The Rockets, The Jazz, The Suns, The Mavericks, now the Nuggets and the Hornets all in Bryant’s conference. Pacers, Knicks, Heat, NOT EVEN CLOSE

    So anything Bryant accomplishes now will be more monumental for the simple fact that the competition Kobe has is better than Jordan had.

    Bryant has done things on the court that MJ could only dream of.

    And the capper is, Kobe Bryant is ONLY 29 YEARS OLD.

    So you haters keep dreaming and we’ll all see who is the greatest in about 10 years.

  • http://www.aol.com xrism

    As for the author even bringing up this comparison shows the FEAR of Bryants greatness. Especially when he is comparing an entire career to half a career.

    I guess we could say that half a Kobe Bryant can be comparable to a WHOLE Michael Jordan.

    Either that or he could just be so ignorant to the fact that comparisons like this are idiotic until both careers have made their accomplishments and retire.

    Its one thing to win with Hall of Famers on your team but it is another to do it without any. That shows the trueness of someones ability.

    As the facts have proven from my last comment. Jordan has NEVER WON without Hall of Famers. Not even ONE winning season. ALL LOSING RECORDS.

    Yet Bryant has done it. And that is the Truth.

  • JohnNuggets

    Jordan will always be the king. He has the respect of none Chicago fans.
    Kobe can play until he is 50.
    He will never match the respect that Jordan had.
    Jordan had a shoe before he was in the NBA.
    Did Kobe have a shoe?
    Jordan won the NCAA and what
    Award Year
    Regular Season MVP 1988, 91, 92, 96, 98
    Finals MVP 1991, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98
    Rookie of the Year 1985
    All-NBA First Team 1987, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98
    Defensive Player of the Year 1998
    All-NBA Defensive First Team 1988, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 97, 98
    NBA All-Star 1985, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98
    All-Star Game MVP 1988, 96, 98
    Slam Dunk champion 1987, 88

    Let’s see Kobe match that. In what maybe three or four years. I don’t think he can. I guess I can wait and see. I don’t think he will or will get the respect that Jordan has. I grew up a Hawks fan and I respect Jordan. And he had about the same level of competition. You had the Knicks, Pacers, Hawks, Jazz, Houston, Lakers, Boston, 46ers and Suns. So get off your high house Lakers fans.

  • http://www.mediabistro.com MJ man

    Xrism, nice try. I will preface this by stating that I am a big Kobe fan.

    Shaq > Pippen by a landslide, even though I think very highly of Pip. Hmm, think Kobe had a little less on his shoulders than MJ during his ride through that supposedly tougher competition?

    Even if the competition was worse for the Bulls, the bottom line is they beat them all. Who is to say any of those Western Conf. foes the Lakers faced would have beaten MJ’s 90s bulls. That’s what your suggesting. I’m all for debates, but your stating that those teams would have knocked the Bulls off when teams with Hall of famers failed to do so in the finals 6 times vs. the Bulls.

    You ignore the hall of famers MJ had to beat to win those rings in the finals. Karl Malone/Stockton (twice), Barkley, Drexler.

    The whole Eastern conf. elite teams built their defenses to stop MJ in the mid 80s because he had no legit 2nd and 3rd scorers. The Pistons and Knicks were single-mindedly trying to beat MJ up for the better part of a decade of his career. Shaq is the one who took that kind attention and beating on the Lakers, not Kobe.

    Just look at their career stats and then call me back.

  • http://www.mediabistro.com MJ man

    And I almost forgot the most latest sample, this year’s finals. Lakers got embarrassed by the Celtics, not just losing, but losing badly. Yes they beat the returning champs, the Spurs, but the ring is the thing.

    Okay, 2 equations:

    Pierce > Gasol
    Odom = Ray Allen : ray allen is past his prime otherwise he’d be better.

    And that leaves Kobe vs. Garnett. Garnett is a HOF lock, and obviously so is Kobe. But MJ had an unbeaten record vs. his HOF competition in the Finals (Drexler, Barkley, Malone, Stockton), and totally dominated them. If he was in MJ’s universe Kobe would have won that series and made any comparison between him and the other HOF on the floor look silly, or at least made the series interesting by himself even if his teammates played like dung.

  • http://www.mediabistro.com MJ man

    And yet another: getting killed by the Pistons in the Finals several years ago. A team with zero HOF players dominated Kobe and Shaq. That, my friend, is ball game.

  • Randolley

    For many seasons Jordan had no shot. His shot got better at the end of his career. That comeback to the Wizards was terrible. Nobodies was blocking his shot. Kobe shoots better than Jordan did. Kobe does not get beaten up like Jordan did. One person has it right. Two different times in basketball. I never liked Jordan. I am from Atlanta and Wilkins was pretty good. I liked Worthy and Big Smooth or Big Easy. That tongue thing was stupid also. Now Kobe licks his lips to be like Jordan. B.J. Armstrong and other guards helped Jordan win those rings. Jordan and Pippen get all the credit for those wins. People forget about those 7 footers the Bulls had. Jordan disgraced himself with his gambling problem. He was dismissed by the league because of it. I am not a Jordan fan. No player can touch Connie Hawkins or Ice Man Gervin.

  • http://jackson peter

    Kobe is not half the defender that Jordan was.

  • FTrix

    Anybody who thinks Kobe is better than MJ is a total idiot.

  • http://YAHOO.COM HOT 16

    kobe is the best baller on the planet besides MJ,and HOT SAUSE that play for AND1 SO WHAT SAID BOTH PLAYERS ARE GOOD IN THERE OWN WAY.

  • Mac

    Kobe wouldn’t have survived against the Bad Boys and the Knicks during the late 80′s/early 90′s. As for the comment about the Eastern Conference being a “JV” division, it was more physical than the west was back then. Kobe began his career with Shaq, and now he’s surround by Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and the wiley Derek Fisher. Don’t throw Scottie Pippen in there because as much as I liked Scottie, without Michael he was an average player.

    If Michael would’ve played with Shaq, they easily would’ve won a decade’s worth of titles in a row.The bottom line is that Kobe doesn’t make his teammates better, as evident in his 61 points against the Knicks, but only 3 assists; LeBron dropped 52, 11 & 10. Kobe is a great player, but he’s too selfish to lead a team to the title. He had a great opportunity, but he GAVE UP on his team in the Finals last season against the Knicks. Jordan never quit on a team, even when his teams were terrible.

  • Kris

    There will never be another Michael Jordan.

  • Realest

    I agree that both players are great but I respect Kobe’s game more because of the competition. During the time time Jordan was winning rings the big man dominated in the NBA such as Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, Barkley…etc The only other players that was Jordan size in that era and postion that averaged over 20 points were Reggie Miller and Clyde Drexler. Neither one of these players were even close to winnig a MVP trophey. Majic, Larry, and Dumars were done win Jordan won his rings. Jordan went in the finals guarding players like Bryon Russel who never had a 30 point game in his NBA career. Bryon Russsel in todays League would of been riding the bench. Kobe has to compete against future hall of famers such as Pierce, Allen, Lebron, Carmelo, D Wade, T-mac, Kevin Durant, Micheal Red, the list goes on ..Just about every team today has at least one all star that can score 30 on any given night

  • Austin

    MJ was, is and will always be the greatest Basketball player to ever play the game.

  • Seriously

    I’ll say it myself. Michael Jordan is a whole lot better than me. He is the best. Why?

    I only have 4 championships. 3 with Shaq in the middle.
    I score 50 points in a series of games because I don’t like to pass the ball.
    My competition is not as tough as people claim it is. Especially, when there are no great teams in the NBA, just great players. MJ had to beat great teams. The Celtics, the Lakers, the Blazers, the Suns; as well as Hall of Fame players.
    I am not even close to achieving as many accolades as MJ.

    as was previously mentioned:

    Jordan won the NCAA
    Award Year
    Regular Season MVP 1988, 91, 92, 96, 98
    Finals MVP 1991, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98
    Rookie of the Year 1985
    All-NBA First Team 1987, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98
    Defensive Player of the Year 1998
    All-NBA Defensive First Team 1988, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 97, 98
    NBA All-Star 1985, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98
    All-Star Game MVP 1988, 96, 98
    Slam Dunk champion 1987, 88

    I am not a team player. I barely pass. I have fewer double/triple doubles. MJ even had one in an All-Star game.

    My sneakers, except for maybe the latest one with Nike, all suck. MJ’s are still being collected to this day.
    I don’t play defense. Ever. I save my energy for the game winning shot I have to miss in the 4th quarter.
    I will never get the respect that MJ had.
    3 peat twice? HA.
    People think I am a better shooter. I don’t think so. But if so. I’ve learned from the best. (MJ)
    I take stupid shots. I get lucky. But sometimes, I don’t.
    I’ve never played with the flu. Nor will I ever win with a runny nose.
    I will never win 72 games.

    I will never lead the league in scoring and win defensive player of the year in the same season.

    I

    will

    never be

    Michael Jordan.

    Thanks for the support. I’m going to cry now.

    Bryant

  • Mart

    These people who say Kobe can be compared to MJ are driving me mad. Really. Some of these nutters even say Bryant is better. Puh-leeze. They claim he will win another 3 rings. Oh my god. It’s getting on my nerves.

  • Michael

    Did you ever know that MJ started his NBA career at the age of 21 and he retired for two seasons in the NBA when his father died. If MJ did not retire in that particular season the BULLS will have their 8 straight championship, and MJ could have his 12 straight scoring title. While Kobe started in NBA at the age of 18, earlier than MJ started his career in the NBA.

  • Phil Jackson

    MJ $hits all over that clow Bryant, for sure!

    Sincerely,

    P. Jackson!

  • hank

    Statistically they are not far from each other when you realize the amount of shots that Jordan got and the Bulls as a team shot more shots than the Lakers teams that Kobe has played for. Jordan was probably better and it’s really crazy how good those Bulls teams were, 8 titles would have been possible… here’s an article comparing them statistically and it’s close: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2905114/kobe_vs_jordan_using_statistics_to.html?cat=14

  • Donald

    I can’t believe Realest. Does he really believe what he’s saying.
    “During the time time Jordan was winning rings the big man dominated in the NBA such as Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, Barkley…etc The only other players that was Jordan size in that era and postion that averaged over 20 points were Reggie Miller and Clyde Drexler. Neither one of these players were even close to winnig a MVP trophey. Majic, Larry, and Dumars were done win Jordan won his rings. Jordan went in the finals guarding players like Bryon Russel who never had a 30 point game in his NBA career. Bryon Russsel in todays League would of been riding the bench. Kobe has to compete against future hall of famers such as Pierce, Allen, Lebron, Carmelo, D Wade, T-mac, Kevin Durant, Micheal Red, the list goes on ..Just about every team today has at least one all star that can score 30 on any given night”
    Does he realized how badly David Stern impacted the game with eliminating the ‘hand-check’ and making defense far less physical than it was in Jordan’s era?? If today’s NBA rules were in the NBA back then, all of the players who he said wasn’t even close to winning MVP would have been scoring more points and averaging better field goal percentages and quite possibly there would be a closer run at MVP (without Jordan in the league of course). And Jordan would have scored 60 every night!!!

  • Anonymous

    We have an interesting debate about this topic going on at the following link:

    http://www.surveymagnet.com/2010/07/what-does-kobe-bryant-have-to-do-eclipse-jordan-as-the-greatest/

    Come join the discussion.

  • Anonymous

    Michael Jordans prime vs Kobe Bryants prime: MIKE hit the nail right on the head when he said he would have a better chance of stopping Kobe than Kobe would stopping him! MIKE & KOBE are about the same height & weight so they are evenly matched! MIKE has bigger hands & wider shoulders! 1st of all MIKE has better {D} & he has the steals & defensive player of the year award 2 proove it! MIKE also has better feet work & can do more things w/ the ball using his hand size advantage! MIKE also is a better 1 foot jumper as you can tell from his airness dunks from the free throw line! MIKE also has never lost in a finals & won all 6 MVP’S in the finals! MIKE also has that unstoppable fade-away jump-shot that he patent-perfected which i will say Kobe is the 2nd best @ performing that! No matter how you look @ it MIKE will always have the ege on Kobe & thats all thats 2 it! Im not taking nothing from Kobe because he is the best active player in the world 4 right now & he will go down as the 2nd best shooting guard ever! MIKE & Kobe would dominate any 2 in there prime in a 2 on 2 match! MIKE would beat Kobe 1 on 1 in there primes! Kobe would beat every1 eles 1 on 1 in his prime after the loss 2 MIKE! MICHAEL JORDAN is the best UNIVERSAL basketball player 2 ever live & he has 2 many weapons 2 match up w/ so the phrase I WANNA BE LIKE MIKE will last 4 eternity! Stay open minded but THOROUGH folks! LOYAL TOUGH 1LUV SPORTS FAN: E.

  • Anonymous

    MICHAEL JORDAN started a whole new REVOLUTION & Kobe Bryant is some-what the EVOLUTION!