Lakers author Roland Lazenby & L.A. Times' Mark Medina on Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant

MrBIGMACK19 Says:

Jan 31, 2012 - THE BEST MEETS THE BEST AFTER HIM! =) MJ to Mamba.

ThePoloman24 Says:

Jan 31, 2012 - yay

TheEliteplayer13 Says:

Jan 31, 2012 - kobe is kobe and mj is mj.....

AndrewQuiroz24 Says:

Jan 31, 2012 - Kobe's ultimate competition is MJ, that's why MJ watches him.

DaMysteereusMon Says:

Jan 31, 2012 - lol

Strutization Says:

Feb 1, 2012 - MJ missed most of a regular season due to a broken foot, he then missed 1 & 1/2 seasons bcuz of his first retirement, then he missed another 3 season when he retired before playing for the Wizards. So when u think about Kobe passing Jordan on the all time scoring list u have to take that into account, plus Kobe came into the league right out of high school so he's supposed to pass Jordan actually he should've passed Jordan on the scoring list sooner. Lebron James will shatter the scoring record.

Strutization Says:

Feb 1, 2012 - Kobe Bryant is no where near the plaer MJ was, if he played with Shaquile Oneal as soon as he came into the league they would won every championship until they retired. If MJ played with Pau Gasol & Andrew Bynum they would be championship contenders. Michael Jordan played in a much tougher NBA where they actually played defense, and flagrant fouls meant someone was bleeding and that's why Jordan had to make his body tougher. MJ made his teammates better, while Kobe's teammates make him better.

Jonreynols Says:

Feb 1, 2012 - How does shaq make kobe better? He and Penny were swept a couple of times in the playoffs and against the rockets in the finals.. And ppl forget kobe avg 29, 7rebs, 6ast in the playoffs in 2001 and 27, 6rebs, 5ast in 2002.. Shaq didn't become a champion until he played with Kobe.. he didn't carry the team by himself

Jonreynols Says:

Feb 1, 2012 - And I do agree that MJ is a better player but he didn't do it alone.. He also had Scottie Pippen who was there best all around player and primary ball handler and defender

wizardhype Says:

Feb 1, 2012 - Kobe is a great player but MJ is the best player.

Narutotar Says:

Feb 1, 2012 - but think about it like this Bulls won the championship from 1991-93 with Michael on the team then he retired in 93 and bulls won no championships, he comes back from retirement in 95 and the bulls won the championship again from 1996-98. He was the difference maker on the Bulls even with Scottie Pippen

Jonreynols Says:

Feb 1, 2012 - yes you're right but if Scottie Pippen left the bulls or retired the same way MJ did during that time the bulls still wouldn't have a won a championship.. I think they made each other better.. Jordan didn't win without Pippen and vice versa..

Knbballa Says:

Feb 2, 2012 - To real basketball players and minds, this is not a surprise. Said this for years, Kobe is the closest to Michael, and everyone else is not even close.

unioncity Says:

Feb 2, 2012 - Kobe was a bench player for 3 years. The second scoring option until 2004. The main playmaker on his team since he became a starter. Phil Jackson admits that Kobe is a better playmaker than Jordan. As a starter Kobe's career average is 28 a game. If Kobe was a starter from the get go he would be averaging 30 points per game. And do not bring up Field Goal Percentage because when you factor in the 3 point makes Kobe's FG Percentage is 49 Percent and Jordan 51 percent.

ilovefrankandbeans Says:

Feb 3, 2012 - People need to realize that the NBA in the 90's was a lot tougher. Hand-checking was legal, fouls would go uncalled, a flagrant foul today was a regular foul back then etc. Ever heard of the Jordan Rules? Also, people only analyze the offensive side instead of both offense and defense. Michael was the complete package. Kobe is a GREAT player don't get me wrong, but it's hard to eclipse MJ even for someone like the Black Mamba. (Btw Roger Mayweather is the original Black Mamba)

Jonreynols Says:

Feb 4, 2012 - good point

StephenEmmanuel Says:

Feb 13, 2012 - Kobe = good playerMJ = GOATMain reasoning:1. Atheltism (e.g. flight, dominance, hands, etc.)2. Clutch (-- even with 2 years off! ... and general complex understanding of the game)3. Era (pre-2000 the NBA game was very different ... more brutal defensive systems)4. Determination (never give up attitude -- flu game)5. Leadership (the ability to drive greatness in those around you)Aside:notice how Kobe _all_ emulates MJ's move (E.g. fade away)

at1212b Says:

Apr 4, 2012 - Time to update with the truth. Now that Jackson is retired, and doesn't have to stroke KB's ego, May 2011:-"Kobe has patterned himself after Michael, and there are a lot of identical things there"-"but it's one thing to hope to be like him, it's another thing to be like him."-""He doesn't shoot the same percentage [.455] as Michael [.497]. He has the same characteristics as Michael, but he's not the same player. It takes nothing away from him — he's a great player in his own right"Cont...

at1212b Says:

Apr 4, 2012 - Cont...(from another interview)-Comparing Jordan and Bryant: Jordan was this kind of guy who could get position in the post and hold it. Jordan is one of the greatest post weapons in the history of the game despite the fact he's not a post player, center or power forward. But he's a great post-up scorer.Tex [Winter] always remarked that Kobe DIDN'T quite have the SAME STRENGTH or center of gravity. Kobe is a fine post-up player, but he could get SHOVED OFF the block EASIER than Michael.

at1212b Says:

Apr 4, 2012 - Let's face it, KB had Shaq protecting him for years as the primary target, and has played in NBA instilled "Easier Offense for the Perimeter Player". In the 90's, you could play a perimeter shooter tight, handcheck with no foul, no 3 Second rule in the paint (this explains why the likes of Kidd and Nash, Billups all turned into ALL-STARS even as they aged because they were allowed free reign to roam around to pass and score).Look at Wade in the 2006 fouls. Free lane with a foul every play.

at1212b Says:

Apr 4, 2012 - You can delude yourself with this 3 pt adjusted stat, but PJ has shut the mouths and minds of the people that warp their thinking and try to justify what a lifetime of numbers show. That difference is the difference between winning and losing many games, especially in the playoffs, clutch situations, MVPs, scoring titles, etc. To say "Stop comparing!!" by PJ because it's UNFAIR (especially for the great Kobe Bryant) says more than enough. I know it's tough to take, but true.

at1212b Says:

Apr 15, 2012 - Sorry, Kobe is not superhuman when it comes to Lakers elimination games. His 30% average in those games is his other legacy.

chesschampion94 Says:

Apr 19, 2012 - Shaq makes kobe better by being another player who needed to be doubled and triple teamed. Kobe had better looks with shaq on the floor. Kobe then developed into an unstoppable scorer. Saying shaq didn't make kobe better is a joke.

Jonreynols Says:

Apr 20, 2012 - Your not understanding what i'm saying.. Yes he made him better in that regard but he didn't carry the team like most ppl say.. Kobe wasn't a scrub on those teams but ppl say Shaq gave Kobe his three championships which is ridiculous

chesschampion94 Says:

Apr 20, 2012 - I totally agree.