Phil Jackson compares Kobe to MJ

[Da_Realist]

Phil Jackson compares Kobe to MJ

Interesting...

[pethuel03]

I really dont agree on the skills part..

offense:
athleticism - jordan is much stronger and i think imo is a better leaper, runs the floor better
shooting - kobe is the better 3 pt shooter but overall shooting, i would take jordan every day of the week

driving to the hoop - its obvious

defense - no need to elaborate

[Da_Realist]

I found it interesting because Phil Jackson is known to be somewhat diplomatic. He currently coaches Kobe so I don't think he would say something that may flare up an old wound.

I don't think we'll know his true thoughts until well after he retires. If anybody could compare the two -- not just playing styles, but leadership, practice habits, camaraderie and other non-public aspects of their persona most fans don't get to see -- it would be Phil Jackson.

[RIMMER]

Compare them all you want, but Kobe blew a 24 point lead and got blown out by 39 points in the Finals.

[danumber88]

I really dont agree on the skills part..

offense:
athleticism - jordan is much stronger and i think imo is a better leaper, runs the floor better
shooting - kobe is the better 3 pt shooter but overall shooting, i would take jordan every day of the week

driving to the hoop - its obvious

defense - no need to elaborate

Kobe and his defense is undeated... their defense is pretty close

[Indian guy]

Kobe's a better ball handler which helps him create jump shots better than MJ. He can get to spots on the floor, rise up and shoot with more ease than MJ IMO. I think that's what Phil meant when he once said last season that "Kobe is better with the ball". But, does being better at na aspect of the game(shot creation) make you the player with better basketball skills? MJ IS superior to Kobe at driving+finishing, post-up game, off ball play, defense, rebounding and passing. Shouldn't that make him the player with better basketball skills? Most likely. I'll still say this, I don't have a problem with someone saying Kobe's a more skilled scorer than MJ. Doesn't make him as effective, since he neither scores as much as MJ nor as efficiently as him.

This isn't a recent interview, btw. It was taken in February.

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

what is interesting is the mere fact that PJax deems them to be comparable.

[pethuel03]

Kobe and his defense is undeated... their defense is pretty close

i dont know...kobe just wants to defend when he likes too..he's lazy sometimes..not like jordan who played intelligent defense on almost possesions. Also he guarded one of the finest players magic, bird, reggie, payton,

[guy]

Kobe and his defense is undeated... their defense is pretty close

Come on man really? How can you say that after the way Pierce and Allen abused him in the Finals? And he didn't deserve to get defensive teams over Shane Battier and Ron Artest. He's definitely overrated on defense.

[sixerfan82]

Compare them all you want, but Kobe blew a 24 point lead and got blown out by 39 points in the Finals.

/thread

[Lebron23]

Come on man really? How can you say that after the way Pierce and Allen abused him in the Finals? And he didn't deserve to get defensive teams over Shane Battier and Ron Artest. He's definitely overrated on defense.

I completely agree that Kobe Bryant is one of the most overrated defender in the NBA.

[Knoe Itawl]

@ the thought of Kobe being an underrated defender. Defense is by far the most overrated aspect of Kobe's game..

This is because we live in an age where every current NBA superstar has a rep of being a great offensive player, but a bad defensive player. So the Kobe homers decided to create this image of Kobe so that he looks like the only current superstar who is great on both ends. His D is not close to MJ.

And as for the Phil Jackson video, the only thing Kobe is better than MJ is outside shooting. That's it. Phil is currently coaching Kobe, how would it sound if he said the truth, that MJ is clearly a better player? Of course he's gonna make it sound as blurry as possible.

How can that be when he never shows it in the PLAYOFFS?

And no one should take anything Phil says on this subject seriously until he retires or stops coaching Kobe.

[23jordan23]

Heres just my opinion:

Inside scoring-Jordan
Dribbles-Kobe
Jump Shot-toss up (on Average) ..(Cluth situation/Game on the line)-Jordan
Dunks-Jordan
Defense-Jordan
3points-i'd give the edge to Kobe
Passing-Jordan
Post up-Jordan

Im not even trying to be biased, but I feel Jordan beats him in most category's.

[guy]

Heres just my opinion:

Inside scoring-Jordan
Dribbles-Kobe
Jump Shot-toss up (on Average) ..(Cluth situation/Game on the line)-Jordan
Dunks-Jordan
Defense-Jordan
3points-i'd give the edge to Kobe
Passing-Jordan
Post up-Jordan

Im not even trying to be biased, but I feel Jordan beats him in most category's.

Agreed. I'd also add:

Driving to the basket - Jordan
Rebounding - Jordan

[iamgine]

I don't know what people disagree about

Clearly PJ is saying that Jordan was a much better player than Kobe. The only reason he (after long hesitation) said that Kobe has better overall skillset is because Kobe has range while MJ not so much. But then he said MJ's inside game is #1 while Oscar Robertson is #2.