As good as Kobe was Jordan was on another level.

[Landrover]

Took him 50 shots , but nice to see him go out like that.

LMAO.........great way to find a negative!
After 20+ years of running up and down (at a All-Star level) the court most men could not even reach the rim.

[bphillips]

Jordan definitely at or around the top. Would like to see how his greatness would have looked now days since the overall athleticism in the league is leaps and bounds better than it used to be. Definitely a top player but not near as impressive I bet. I can't see him in today's league being any better than Kobe especially with equal teammates

[El General]

Kobe wanted to be the best.
Michael wanted to beat you.

That is really the only difference, but it is what made Ari Jordan great.

[Michael]

For the first time in my life, I found myself pulling for Kobe and the Lakers in the fourth quarter last night. It was fun to watch and cool to see him get 60 and the W in his final game. Kobe is an all-time great player.

That said, MJ was on an entirely different level, and arguably the greatest NBA player ever (hi Wilt!). It's debatable whether Kobe is even the greatest Laker ever.

[AntlerCollector]

Tim Duncan is the greatest power forward of all time.

[mikemorvan]

Jordan and Bryant were both great players. I think Jordan was a better team player. In their primes I think I'd take Jordan in a game of one on one between the two. Different era's. Both would be fine in the other's era.

I can't get past Bryant's off court stuff in his earlier years. But I learned a long time ago to not base sports fandom on personal life. For that reason I'm not that big a sports fan any longer.

[AntlerCollector]

For the first time in my life, I found myself pulling for Kobe and the Lakers in the fourth quarter last night. It was fun to watch and cool to see him get 60 and the W in his final game. Kobe is an all-time great player.

That said, MJ was on an entirely different level, and arguably the greatest NBA player ever (hi Wilt!). It's debatable whether Kobe is even the greatest Laker ever.

I feel exactly the same way. I was glad to see Kobe go out like he did. He was a great player without a doubt. He wasn't as good as Jordan. Like you said maybe not even the best Laker ever.

[Michael]

Jordan definitely at or around the top. Would like to see how his greatness would have looked now days since the overall athleticism in the league is leaps and bounds better than it used to be. Definitely a top player but not near as impressive I bet. I can't see him in today's league being any better than Kobe especially with equal teammates

The overall "athleticism" of today's game may (arguably) be better, but the physicality of the league in Jordan's era was undoubtedly significantly higher. Aside from the hand-checking rules, players did whatever it took to protect the rim and the paint. The Detroit Bad Boys (who were in the same division as Jordan and seemingly always in the Conference Finals) were nasty. Jordan definitely got his share of foul calls, but those "enforcers" also made sure he earned his points, too.

Honestly, I think MJ would be equally (if not more) dominant in today's game.

[bphillips]

The overall "athleticism" of today's game may (arguably) be better, but the physicality of the league in Jordan's era was undoubtedly significantly higher. Aside from the hand-checking rules, players did whatever it took to protect the rim and the paint. The Detroit Bad Boys (who were in the same division as Jordan and seemingly always in the Conference Finals) were nasty. Jordan definitely got his share of foul calls, but those "enforcers" also made sure he earned his points, too.

Honestly, I think MJ would be equally (if not more) dominant in today's game.

Yea but they're not allowed to play like that now. Some of these guys would be animals if they could play that rough. It was more fun to watch then because now it's not they they can't play that kind of defense they just can't afford to with the foul calls.

I think he would be dominant too just no more than Kobe, Lebron, or insert other superstar today. It's fun to wonder anyway

[Burntorange Bowhunter]

Bird's stats were better then LeBron's.

[bphillips]

Bird's stats were better then LeBron's.

Yea back then

[Mambajeep]

Jordan was the best individually, today's nba wouldn't be here without bird and magic. Magic being the best to ever play.

[Michael]

Yea but they're not allowed to play like that now. Some of these guys would be animals if they could play that rough. It was more fun to watch then because now it's not they they can't play that kind of defense they just can't afford to with the foul calls.

I think he would be dominant too just no more than Kobe, Lebron, or insert other superstar today. It's fun to wonder anyway

You forget some of Riley's Knicks teams and the 70 point games...for the winning team! A lot of the games were brutal to watch, which led to some of the rule changes that have benefited scoring.

[bphillips]

You forget some of Riley's Knicks teams and the 70 point games...for the winning team! A lot of the games were brutal to watch, which led to some of the rule changes that have benefited scoring.

No I know what you mean but I like to see guys bust it on defense that's all I meant. Trying their hardest on both ends is better to me.

[Dale Moser]

Michael Jordan would be the best basketball player in the world regardless of the era you put him in.