I just feel like if Kobe came first...

[ArbitraryWater]

Everybody would say MJ can't reach him..

[Bandito]

OP will open his mouth wide open?

[Dr Hawk]

More like everybody would say how MJ became GOAT thanks to having the chance of seeing Kobe play during his childhood and without Kobe, MJ wouldn't exist.

[Uncle Drew]

OP is drunk again.

[Gileraracer]

Kobe wouldn't be Kobe without seeing MJ play.

[Goro]

They would say he learned from Kobe and perfected it.

[tontoz]

That talk would have ended after Jordan's rookie year.

[Showtime80']

Kobe mimicked EVERYTHING Jordan did for God's sake!

Jordan on the other hand was an original in every sense of the word even the way he wore his uniform, baggy shorts, color of sneakers, wrist band on the forearm, tongue wagging, bald head!!!

Michael Jordan was a trend setter, Kobe was just a follower! But you have to give him credit for one thing, he's probably the closest anybody will ever come to IMITATING MJ and have great success at it, go down the line and see all of the "Next Jordans" (Hill, Penny, Carter, McGrady) who failed miserably in their attempt.

[Goro]

Kobe mimicked EVERYTHING Jordan did for God's sake!

Jordan on the other hand was an original in every sense of the word even the way he wore his uniform, baggy shorts, color of sneakers, wrist band on the forearm, tongue wagging, bald head!!!

Michael Jordan was a trend setter, Kobe was just a follower! But you have to give him credit for one thing, he's probably the closest anybody will ever come to IMITATING MJ and have great success at it, go down the line and see all of the "Next Jordans" (Hill, Penny, Carter, McGrady) who failed miserably in their attempt.

I don't think they were truly trying to imitate Jordan. The media called them the next Jordans because they were desperately searching for one.

[Magic 32]

It would help Kobe to play in that era for sure.

But MJ changed the game.

You can't replicate that.

He is going to be number 1 until someone wins 6+ rings with Wilt-like stats.

[buddha]

if there was no MJ the debate for GOAT would actually be interesting and Kobe would be in everyone's top 5.

[Goro]

if there was no MJ the debate for GOAT would actually be interesting and Kobe would be in everyone's top 5.

Why would removing 1 player move him up 7 spots?

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Kobe would've swagger jacked David Thompson and Doctor J. There's no alternate universe where Bean doesn't mimic Jordan somehow.

[buddha]

Why would removing 1 player move him up 7 spots?

because Kobe is like a poor man's version of the greatest of all-time and that makes him look worse than he is.

without MJ being a better version of Kobe, Kobe is now the greatest SG of all-time and a tied for the most championships of all-time greats in the modern era. without MJ's ridiculous stats to compare to, Kobe's look a lot better, this is true for all perimeter players even LeBron.

There would be a consensus top 5 and it would look like

Kobe
LeBron
Magic
KAJ
Bird

no order and this is obviously not accounting for who won championships during the 90's since there's 6 up for grabs. The Lakers probably get another, Magic and KAJ would be atop everyone's list. Barkley probably gets one, Hakeem might get one or two more and be higher on peoples list. Maybe Shaq gets one with the Magic. Stockton and Malone probably get atleast one.

[SexSymbol]

Kobe mimicked EVERYTHING Jordan did for God's sake!

Jordan on the other hand was an original in every sense of the word even the way he wore his uniform, baggy shorts, color of sneakers, wrist band on the forearm, tongue wagging, bald head!!!

Michael Jordan was a trend setter, Kobe was just a follower! But you have to give him credit for one thing, he's probably the closest anybody will ever come to IMITATING MJ and have great success at it, go down the line and see all of the "Next Jordans" (Hill, Penny, Carter, McGrady) who failed miserably in their attempt.

that's just not true completely.
He imitated dr.J A LOT.