Kobe VS Jordan at age 34

[LamarOdom]

At age 34 Jordan was in his last season with the Bulls Kobe in his current, the season is still young so a lot can happen with Kobe's season, but the little older members here who was best at this point? I never saw MJ play in his Bulls days except some old clips so I can't say more than what I see on the their respective stats.

A thing I noticed instantly is Kobe's terrible turnovers and MJ's 3pt shooting was terrible. MJ's fg% was at an alltime low for him at that point while Kobe is currently shooting a career high.'

Kobe has been a bit lazy on D how was Mike?

[STATUTORY]

chucker put up 23 shots per game



enuff said

[Money 23]

First of all you have the wrong season, MJ's b-day comes at the middle of the season. So you're supposed to compare it to the 1996 - 1997 season. Kobe's only been 34 since August.

MJ was by far and away better. A true leader who inspired his teammates play, and didn't throw resident role players under the buss claiming they don't play defense.

MJ didn't take visible breaks on defense like Kobe, in order to save energy for a true agenda to score points.

MJ put up the same stats, without forcing the issue to get to 30 ppg the way Kobe so visibly does.

He didn't recruit a couple great players then alienate them by going to the local media he has in his pocket and calling it "my team"

MJ delegated responsibilities and played a role, even if he was the best player.

MJ didn't throw his sidekick Scottie Pippen, a man who like Pau Gasol helped him win rings by saying "he needs to put his big boy pants on" instead MJ pumped him up. Told the media he wouldn't be where he was without Pippen, and that he was an MVP caliber player (even if he wasn't)

He played very good defense, as proof watch him in the 1997 playoffs shut down Washington Bullet's best and fastest player, Rod Strickland (put him in a straight jacket)

MJ was leading the best team in the league, Kobe's leading the Lakers to a #8 seed at best, yet with a MUCH more talented roster surrounding him.

MJ (34) > Kobe (34)

[G-Funk]

Thing that stand out the most is 3P attempts, Kobe is averaging 5.7 and Jordan just 1.5

[LamarOdom]

Team wise MJ better team to this point, Kobe only got a half healthy Dwight and a Gasol with knee problems who also has missed a lot of games, Nash is also out.

When they all are healthy Lakers team > Bulls team but not right now I think.

[nightprowler10]

First of all you have the wrong season, MJ's b-day comes at the middle of the season. So you're supposed to compare it to the 1996 - 1997 season. Kobe's only been 34 since August.

MJ was by far and away better. A true leader who inspired his teammates play, and didn't throw resident role players under the buss claiming they don't play defense.

MJ didn't take visible breaks on defense like Kobe, in order to save energy for a true agenda to score points.

MJ put up the same stats, without forcing the issue to get to 30 ppg the way Kobe so visibly does.

He didn't recruit a couple great players then alienate them by going to the local media he has in his pocket and calling it "my team"

MJ delegated responsibilities and played a role, even if he was the best player.

MJ didn't throw his sidekick Scottie Pippen, a man who like Pau Gasol helped him win rings by saying "he needs to put his big boy pants on" instead MJ pumped him up. Told the media he wouldn't be where he was without Pippen, and that he was an MVP caliber player (even if he wasn't)

He played very good defense, as proof watch him in the 1997 playoffs shut down Washington Bullet's best and fastest player, Rod Strickland (put him in a straight jacket)

MJ was leading the best team in the league, Kobe's leading the Lakers to a #8 seed at best, yet with a MUCH more talented roster surrounding him.

MJ (34) > Kobe (34)

[/thread]

[OldSchoolBBall]

Jordan was basically 35 years old in 1998, not 34 (he started the season 34 and 9 months old and turned 35 mid-way through the season). He also didn't have anywhere near the help around him Kobe does (especially with Pippen missing half the season) and had a cracked knuckle and torn ligament on the index finger of his shooting hand, which is why his shooting was terrible over the first 10-12 games (41% FG/69% FT over that span as compared to 48% FG/83% FT the remaining 68+ games).

[Yao Ming's Foot]

Imagine that Kobe's numbers are right there with Jordan's

And the defensive ratings of the league...

2013 105.0
1998 105.0

What a coincidence

[G-Funk]

MJ did not play defense, the hell you talking about lol, Pippen says Hi

[swag2011]

First of all you have the wrong season, MJ's b-day comes at the middle of the season. So you're supposed to compare it to the 1996 - 1997 season. Kobe's only been 34 since August.

MJ was by far and away better. A true leader who inspired his teammates play, and didn't throw resident role players under the buss claiming they don't play defense.

MJ didn't take visible breaks on defense like Kobe, in order to save energy for a true agenda to score points.

MJ put up the same stats, without forcing the issue to get to 30 ppg the way Kobe so visibly does.

He didn't recruit a couple great players then alienate them by going to the local media he has in his pocket and calling it "my team"

MJ delegated responsibilities and played a role, even if he was the best player.

MJ didn't throw his sidekick Scottie Pippen, a man who like Pau Gasol helped him win rings by saying "he needs to put his big boy pants on" instead MJ pumped him up. Told the media he wouldn't be where he was without Pippen, and that he was an MVP caliber player (even if he wasn't)

He played very good defense, as proof watch him in the 1997 playoffs shut down Washington Bullet's best and fastest player, Rod Strickland (put him in a straight jacket)

MJ was leading the best team in the league, Kobe's leading the Lakers to a #8 seed at best, yet with a MUCH more talented roster surrounding him.

MJ (34) > Kobe (34)

this is all you're doing --->

[Vertical-24]

Kobe is playing fantastic basketball but there are a few things that aren't so fantastic along with it.

1. Turnovers - Kobe has been constantly turning the ball over left and right. This has been happening a lot during his drives to the basket. Perhaps due to lack of athleticism and protection. Maybe its just me but I feel like he's been stripped more this season (and this early in a season, at that) than any portion of his career. He never used to get cookie'd as much as he has been of late. Perhaps this because of his increased ball-handling duties which is way to much for him. This part of his game will probably improve with the return of Steve Nash. Jordan barely had Pippen that season ('98) and turned the ball over much less.

2. Defense - Kobe had begun sagging off of D since around 09, but would occasionally lock in when he needed to. These days he has been extremely soft when it comes to defense. He's contesting less these days, locking in less and less, and just doesn't seem focused. He tries to roam on defense like he used to earlier in his career but he's too slow returning to his man and gets burned so much. Jordan was still a solid defender at 34.


These two things are big differentials between him and Jordan at age 34. In terms of scoring, Kobe was just as good, if not better. In terms of the other intangibles of the game, I would give it to Jordan. Jordan was the better player at 34, albeit slightly. Kobe still has a whole lot of season left for us to judge. He could surprise or he could disappoint. And besides team success, he's been surprising time and time again.

[juju151111]

Imagine that Kobe's numbers are right there with Jordan's

And the defensive ratings of the league...

2013 105.0
1998 105.0

What a coincidence

Mj had a cracked knuckle at the start of the season and Mj was 35 that season. Pippen and Rodman miss a lot of the season and Mj was still on pace to lead them to like 55 wins.

[OldSchoolBBall]

Watch Kobe this season and tell me with a straight face that he's as good as this player: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMzwS62NR9k

Come on dudes...

[Yao Ming's Foot]

Mj had a cracked knuckle at the start of the season and Mj was 35 that season. Pippen and Rodman miss a lot of the season and Mj was still on pace to lead them to like 55 wins.

Wow a cracked knuckle is he ok?????

Bulls won on the strength of their D (3rd in the league) and Jordan was 7th on the team in defensive rating.

[DonDadda59]

Probably not a good idea to compare an entire season (that ended with an MVP, championship, and finals MVP) with a 25 game sample, especially considering Kobe was shooting 53% like 3 weeks ago and his team is 3 games under .500. Kobe's shooting % will be around his normal 45% range and if everyone is healthy on the Lakers, his scoring will dip. If it doesn't and everyone is in the lineup, look for the Lakers to struggle to make the playoffs.