The Debate over the Debate

Enough Said

MJ, Kobe, and Lebron

I cannot believe I am talking NBA this early in October, but with the season only weeks away, I have to get something straight. Every season for about the past five years, we hear the debate Lebron vs. Kobe. Which one is better? Next, some jackass starts the debate “Are they the next Jordan?” I cannot believe I am giving this debate any credibility by even blogging about it but how can you be the next Jordan if you are not clearly the best player in your league?

 

When MJ was in the same league as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, MJ was the best player. When MJ was in the same league as Clyde Drexler and Isiah Thomas, MJ was the best player. When he was in the same league as Reggie Miller and Karl Malone, he was the best player. Even his last season with the Bulls when he was 35 and Shaquille O’Neal was 26 in his sixth year in the league and second season with the Lakers, MJ was the best player. Kobe Bryant just became the best player on his team six seasons ago.

 

For all you Kobe lovers out there, who say “oh well Kobe was only 23,24, and 25 during the three-peat run with Shaq, how could he be dominant?” take a look at what Jordan did at that age. When Jordan was 23, he only played in eighteen games because of an injury, but at 24 and 25, he took over. At age 24 he lead the league in scoring with a whopping 37 points a game. That was just a warm up for what Michael would do the next season. In 1988, at the age of 25, Michael Jordan lead the league again in scoring at 35 a game, won the defensive player of the year award, and won his first NBA MVP award.

 

That same year in 1988, Jordan shot 53% from the field. Kobe Bryant has never shot 50% in a season. Ever. Jordan did it eight times and averaged 50% for his career. Oh, and yes, I am including his two seasons with the Wizards. In the playoffs, MJ shot 50% or better in six different seasons. Kobe Bryant did it once and that is just because I rounded .497 up.

The one aspect of the game that everybody seems to say Kobe is clearly better at than Michael is the three point shot. The only reason people say that is because that was the worst part of Jordan’s game. In Bryant’s career, he has shot 34% from beyond the arc, and 33% in the playoffs. In Jordan’s career, he shot 33% from downtown and 33% also in the playoffs. Big difference huh?

 

As you can now tell, Lebron is not getting much attention in this article. How many rings does LeBron have? Exactly. Let me know how he is doing in 2015 and then maybe I’ll debate the fact that he is being debated with Jordan.

 

As for Kobe, anyone who knows me, or knows anything about basketball, knows I can go on and on about why Michael is better. Whether it be Jordan’s six Finals MVP awards to Kobe’s one, or even the fact that Jordan took the two best years of his career off, in between the Bulls’ two three-peats, to play baseball. (Quick note also on all you Jordan baseball haters, he did hit over .300 in the second half of his season with the Barons.) The fact is, there are plenty of reasons, stats, numbers and awards to prove that this is not a debate. I just hope this article has not changed anyone’s opinion on the subject matter because it was clearly a no-brainer to begin with.

-       SCF

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