Kobe Bryant by The Los Angeles Daily News

Author:The Los Angeles Daily News
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Triumph Books
Published: 2016-03-17T16:00:00+00:00

Michael Jordan goes up for a layup and Shaquille O’Neal challenges the shot as a young Kobe Bryant looks on. (San Gabriel Valley Tribune: Keith Birmingham)

Kobe and MJ shared many similar traits on the court and similarly blossomed under the tutelage of coach Phil Jackson. (L.A. Daily News: Hans Gutknecht)

The Comparisons

Their ability to thrive through any moment explains why the Bryant-Jordan comparisons never fade.

Bryant has scored a career-high 81 points. He has posted at least 50 points in 24 games. Bryant’s career-high 35.4 points-per-game average in the 2005-06 season represented the eighth-highest scoring average in league history. Meanwhile, Jordan has scored a career-high 69 points. He posted at least 50 points in 39 games. Jordan’s 30.1 points-per-game career average eclipsed Bryant’s average in all but two of his seasons.

That prompted former Lakers and Bulls coach Phil Jackson to offer his analysis of the two players he coached in his recent memoir, “Eleven Rings.” Jackson considered Jordan a better defender, more accurate shooter and superior leader, while praising Bryant’s conditioning and offseason training. Jackson also wrote Bryant seemed “hell bent on surpassing Jordan as the greatest player in the game.”

“People who say that don’t really understand me,” Bryant said. “It’s a myth. Phil likes to say things a lot of times to create good content and good stories.”

More stories will surface once Bryant surpasses Jordan on the scoring list. If it happens against San Antonio, Bryant would have needed to play 196 more games than Jordan. Yet, consider some circumstances. While Jordan remained the undisputed leader of his team, Bryant played behind Shaquille O’Neal before eventually becoming the Lakers’ first option. Bryant also played 19 consecutive seasons, while Jordan rested between two separate comebacks.

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