Before the NBA Finals started this year ESPN did a Sunday Conversation with the league MVP, Kobe Bryant. Stephen A. Smith, a talented writer and analyst when he is not trying to chew off the faces of the sports anchors around him, was in the middle of giving Kobe his ego boost that everyone this season has done. Then Stephen A. broke the cardinal rule. He asked Kobe if he thought he was better than His Airness, Michael Jordan. While we give props to Kobe for avoiding the question like Courtney Love at an awards show, it doesn’t change the fact that question is out there. It’s like your partner saying “Do you love me?” You have to answer yes or no, and the fate of the near future rests on your answer. So I decided to take it upon myself to answer the question. For the Talkhoops.net jury’s approval, I bring you the case of Jordan vs. Kobe.
For the opening argument I would like to applaud Kobe Bryant on his MVP award this season, an award he won in one of the most hotly contested races since Barack vs. Hillary or David vs. David on American Idol. He helped to take a Lakers team with Lamar “The Ghost” Odom and Ronny “I was on Gonzaga before it wasn’t cool to like Gonzaga anymore” Turiaf all the way to the NBA Finals. Quite an accomplishment, Kobes. Having said that Mr. Bryant is about as close to taking Michael Jordan’s crown as the greatest player ever as M. Night Shyamalan is to making another good film. Not close at all.
I would like to state that as a child I was about as big a fan of Michael Jordan as anyone I knew. My wall was plastered with magazine clips of his airness, I wore his shoes with the hope that I could fly, and I had a different Bulls or Nike shirt with his Airness striking a pose for every day of the week. This fashion trend came to an end only when I realized that girls weren’t interested in seeing MJ on my chest as much as I was.
The NBA seasons from 1991 to 1998 were magical to me, largely because I am from Houston, so even when MJ took a break to battle the Mendoza Line as a Birmingham Baron I still got to see the Rockets beat up on the Knicks and Magic. (To this day I would say the two title runs of the Rockets represent some of the most exciting in NBA history)
But any true hoops fan will tell you that the two rings Houston won have an asterisk next to them, and there is one reason. Michael was away. True, he did come back for half a season, falling to Lil Penny, Ho Grant, and Shaq. But that was before Michael shook the rust off. Number 45 Michael, not the real Michael. And while we saw miracle runs from Hakeem and friends, the infamous O.J. Simpson chase, and a young Shaq begin his lifelong journey to a 50% free throw percentage, the fact is we all waited. Like Metropolis waiting for a miracle as Zod pounded the city into oblivion, we waited for Michael to come back. And when he did there was no stopping him. The 1996 Bulls went off for a record 72-10 season that was far easier than it looked. He then won another two titles after that, and in his second return damn near got a Wizards team with Jerry Stackhouse to the playoffs, perhaps his greatest achievement. I kid.
The evidence I will show will leave no doubt in your mind as to who is the greatest. And by the end of the session all I ask is that you call me Adam-us Finch.
Exhibit A- The Stats
Very rarely can you put numbers side by side and give an adequate comparison between two players. The George Mikan versus Shaq comparisons are a bit difficult, though who can hate on any player who wore Chuck Taylors on the court? Luckily for us, MJ and the Black Mamba both played the same position and were in eras so close together that it is realistic to do this. So here’s a quick rundown of the awards and stats that the two players have. (Stats used from NBA.Com)
Awards
Michael Jordan*
Six-time NBA champion (1991-93, 1996-98); NBA MVP (1988, '91, '92, '96, '98); 10-time All-NBA First Team (1987-93, 1996-98); All-NBA Second Team (1985); Defensive Player of the Year (1988); Nine-time All-Defensive First Team (1988-93, 1996-98); Rookie of the Year (1985); 14-time All-Star; All-Star MVP (1988, '96, '98); One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996); Two-time Olympic gold medalist (1984, '92) NBA Finals MVP (1991-1993, 1996-1998)
* Not all awards are listed for Jordan
Kobe Bryant
Three-time NBA champion (2000, 2001, 2002); NBA Most Valuable Player (2008) 2-time scoring champion (2006, 2007); 10-time NBA All-Star (1998, 2000-2008) 2-time NBA All-Star Game MVP (2002, 2007); 10-time All-NBA Selection:First Team: (2002-2004, 2006-2008), Second Team (2000, 2001); Third Team: (1999, 2005); 8-time All-Defensive Selection: First Team (2000, 2003, 2004, 2006-2008) Second Team (2001, 2002); NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1997); NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion: 1997
When you look at that many awards stacked against one another it may be hard to see any clear cut winner. But here are some awards that stand out. MJ has 5 NBA
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