Let me posit that I am a lifelong KNICKS fan so I loved to hate Jordan, called him a gunner who got every touch foul in the playoffs and when he didn’t his whiney coach cried to the media.

BUT LET’S CALL SOME THINGS AS THEY ARE -

a) Kobe is not even near the player Jordan was right now at least. Forget offense, look at defense and steals.

b) Jordan had his many, many flaws as a team member, (many of which were swept under the rug and Phil helped smooth over) but he was certainly a leader who demanded respect if not dislike in some cases from fellow teammates. Kobe is not that type of battle intense leader and I doubt he gets that kind of respect from his teammates. It was Jordan’s team and he’d sure as hell let you know it, as he did Cartwright once in the playoffs. (though Big Bill later gave Mike a piece of his mind)

c) Jordan’s yearning to win was in the class of Magic and Bird, no player’s today is quite in that class.

d) Kobe has been virtually shut out of scoring in playoff games including the Finals this year. That NEVER happened to MJ, and he took far worse physical beatings than Kobe. Tashon Prince is what a buck 80?

e) As much as he is doubled teamed it’d NOTHING compared to the physical beating teams like the KNICKS (pre touch foul checking rules) put on Jordan every time he drove the lane remember Ewing, Oak and Xman, or the assassins?

And Jordan DID NOT have a big Shaq in the middle to alleviate his beating, only a touchy feely Scotty Pippen… (no need for further comment on him)

f) It will be interesting to see how Kobe does next year, he may rise to another level? as McGrady did without being in Carter’s shadow.

However, as of now comparing Kobe to Jordan just sounds good but is pretty removed from reality.

He’s a great player and a likely Hall of Famer but let’s get real.