Friday, July 22nd, 2011 at 9:20 am  |  132 responses

Phil Jackson: Kobe Wants to Pass Jordan on All-Time Scoring List


Phil Jackson told the LA Times last season that even though Kobe Bryant publicly tries to play off the historic scoring milestones, he desperately wants to leapfrog Michael Jordan on the all-time career scoring leaderboard. This should surprise precisely no one: “With an indifferent expression, stony silence and a downplaying of each milestone, Kobe Bryant tried hard to show that he wasn’t preoccupied with climbing the NBA’s all-time scoring list. But not many believed him, including Phil Jackson. When I asked the former Lakers coach last season which player Bryant wants to pass on the scoring list the most, Jackson replied without hesitation, ‘Michael Jordan.’ Bryant argued that wasn’t true and continued touting his sole motivation entails trying to minimize the gap between Bill Russell’s 11 NBA titles and his own five. Bryant isn’t lying when he says that’s his main motivation, but it’s misleading to act indifferent about it when teammates, media and the general public know he’s driven to be the best player ever.”

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  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    @Bike, are you serious? LeBron is more like MJ than Kobe? Do you watch basketball. That was rehtorical. NO YOU DON’T. Please refrain from brain fart typing. LeBron does not possess the same basketball skills and competitive-ness as Kobe, let alone MJ.

  • LA Huey

    We all knew what the number change was all about. In related news, a basketball is round.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    I think Bike meant to say only LeBron possesses the potential and skillset to get into the GOAT debate. And he does, not saying he’ll get there, probably won’t. But at the same age LeBron has accomplished more.

  • seriousblack

    It’s called being a stan when you can’t accept simple criticism of a guy just because he’s your favorite player. Plain and simple.

  • http://slamonline.com Tae

    Im 23, and yea i’ve seen Jordan play. Just about his whole career. Im not clueless. Im just sayin Kobe is as good as MJ and he can be touched. Thats all im sayin

  • seriousblack

    I’m guessing Tae isn’t old enough to have seen Mike in his prime. Most likely born after 85′, which means the opinion doesn’t count :-D

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    He would have to have playoff heroics that are insane and game winners galore for the rest of his career in order to get into any sort of GOAT debate.(I see Wade having more) Right now he is not even looking in. You have to win a championship before even being thought of in a GOAT debate. No point in acting like he’s almost there. He has light years to go. It’s strange to even put LeBron up there with all time greats when he has a couple great playoff series and some amazing regular seasons. O Rings… Especially since Kobe also has similar accomplishments and he has 5 rings. But somehow LeBron has a better chance right now of being closer to MJ. Not in my world but if thats how you see it, thats that.

  • http://slamonline.com Tae

    @#23, I never said if he passes MJ tha all time scoring list he’ll be better. That list doesnt tell you who’s tha best player of all time. But i did say Kobe has a better skill set. Ex., jumpshot, ball handles, post game, ect. Thats something i believe and im stickin by that no matter what. Overall players:MJ but as far as their skill sets:Kobe

  • seriousblack

    Tae, if you are 23 it is impossible for you to have witnessed and understood Jordan in the 80′s. You probably barely remember anything before 96′ or 97′. You are so very wrong about Kobe it’s almost funny.

  • http://slamonline.com Tae

    @seriousblack, i’ve seen Jordan in his prime. I might be 23 but dont play me like idk what im talkin about. I got Dvd’s on Jordan out tha a*s and watch em almost everyday. With full games, seasons, playoffs, finals. So i’ve seen Jordan in his prime. You act like Kobe doesnt compare

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Tae… Tae..TAE!!! No! Bad Tae! Skill set wise MJ has the edge, not by much, but what you have to realize is Kobe watched MJ to get his moves. I don’t think he’s perfected anything over MJ except for his outside shot. MJ was better on the post. And yes Kobe is great on the post. You obviously have not seen MJ play allot. He is better than Kobe at everyhting for the most part. If you choose not to except this that is fine, but it is FACT.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    It’s not that Kobe doesn’t compare Tae. In fact its the oposite. They compare very closely. But its is FACT that Jordan is not only better than Kobe, but better than everyone. It shows on paper and on film. Love Kobe man. I love Kobe, but you have to understand that MJ is better. Not by rediculous amounts but you fooling yourself saying Kobe is as good or better. Just not true.

  • bike

    @lakeshow. I meant what I said…LeBron has a better skill set than Kobe. Equal offensive skills but LeBron is a much better playmaker. LeBron has also accomplished more at this point in his career than Kobe did. He has the potential (the key word is potential) to be as good as MJ and possibly the GOAT but it remains to be seen if he has anything close to the fire in his gut like MJ had.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    MJ at 26 – 1 MVP 1 DPOY No Finals Appearances – LeBron at 26 – 2 MVP’s 2 Finals Appearances. Kobe had Shaq, is 32 or 33? as an individual he cannot reach MJ, as a player championship wise obviously he has a decent shot. Like I said I doubt LeBron can reach MJ, but he’s put himself in a better position as an individual then anyone. Add that with what all his critics say about him, and he has the potential to get there (has no post game, killer instinct, unreliable jumpshot, no “go-to” move). But Still a long way off, 6 championships almost consecutively (that’s what he’ll need, minimum) seems almost inconceivable with the way the league structure is headed.

  • http://slamonline.com Tae

    @seriousblack, i remember tha 80′s Jordan. I wasnt born til 88 but like i said i went back and got put on to Jordan. Yea i was what, 7 or 8 watchin tha finals, but i wasnt one of those lil kids just jumpin around at every basket made by either team, i understood who Jordan was and i knew who i was watchin being that i played ball at a young age myself. I know Jordan is tha best and all that, is it so wrong for me to say that Kobe can catch him???

  • Kyle

    How is Kobe the biggest winner in the league right now when Dirk dissected the heavily favored Lakers in laughable fashion. They got freaking SWEPT. Check out the numbers while one guy usually had to score on 2 guys with another running at him and Kobe faced single coverage. And Kobe got contained by guys like Jason Kidd, Dirk flat out KILLED IT no matter who was guarding him in the playoffs. Not one person was successful stopping him, and since Dirk is considered such a horrible defender… why did he guard Pau Gasol and expose the guy time and time again? Kobe isn’t Jordan, and while he has that killer extinct, he’s not clutch when you look at the stats. Dirk is far more clutch as are guys like Manu Ginboli, Melo, and Chris Paul. And Jordan, Bird and Miller are guys I’d rather take a last shot… hell even Rex Chapman was far more clutch with his insane 30 foot 3′s to tie games. And to Lakeshow, Kobe is actually a smarter and better passer than Jordan was while being a more efficient outside shooter, but that’s about it. Kobe just doesn’t always make that pass these days.

  • http://slamonline.com Tae

    @Lake Show, i feel you but its just my opinion thats all. Bein that i think Kobe is a better shooter from 3pt range and all. I know Jordan is tha best, i understand that, im not gonna keep sayin it. I just feel as far as skills Kobe has a slight edge and u feel Jordan has a slight edge and i respect your opinion. I love both players

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    If you think Dirk is a greater winner and better player than Kobe than this conversacion is over Kyle. Facts don’t lie. NBK: Dude quit with the Shaq thing for real. We all know Kobe wouldn’t have his first 3 rings w/o Shaq. Guess what Shaq doens’t have those 3 w/o Kobe. And #4 he doesn’t get w/o D-Wade. Does Magics Chips with Kareem not count? Do you subtract rings for everyone that played with another marquee talent while getting a chip? MJ could have done it w/o Pippen? But LeBron would win chips with or w/o Wade right?? Common with the Chip discounting. It’s rediculous. Should Pau not be considered a champion and an all time great forward because Kobe was on his team. That just gets old. And you can do it with ANYONE. Bird’s Chips don’t count becasue of how good the Celts were right? Enough with the Chip discounting. Sorry bout all the dumb spelling errors.

  • seriousblack

    Tae, no my dude. Skillwise, Jordan has the edge. Kobe has more range on his shot, but that’s where the buck stops. I wouldn’t even say Kobe is a better passer. Jordan was a more highly skilled all around player than Kobe is now. Add to that the fact that he was a better defensive player and more athletic and it’s pretty clear who the better player is. He also got more accomplished playing less games than Kobe. I’m only pointing out your age because every time this discussion is brought up, 9 times out of 10 the person taking your position is in your age group.

  • seriousblack

    For the record tho, I think Kobe has Lebron in terms of skill. Lebron is an infinitely better passer, more athletic and stronger. He’s accomplished more individually than Kobe so I think he’s a better player. Just not as skilled yet.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    There is a difference between Batman and Robin, whether you want to admit it or not. Noone is arguing that Pippen is better then Kobe are they? LeBron at 26 > Kobe at 26, the rings don’t make Kobe a better individual. Like it or not. Basketball is a teamsport, using championships that a team won as the only reason one player is better then another is ridiculous. If LeBron continues at this pace for however long Kobe remains relevant in age he will crush every record Kobe has, have better career averages in every single statistic. I love Kobe as a player, admire how he goes about being a competitor, but that doesn’t excuse me from being logical. Frankly the only thing that makes Kobe better then LeBron today are 2 championships, and longevity.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Disagree, disagree, disagree. I don’t know what your saying about the Batman, Robin deal. Nor do I know what your trying to get at with the Pippen compared to Kobe reference. But Kobe at 26> Than LeBron. Who said Championships make a player the greatest? Have you not heard me proclaim how MJ is the GOAT. Not Bill Russel…. And what your saying about how many chips doesn’t = how good you are, same applys for STATS. Just because you average more rebounds or more assists than someone does not mean you are better than them at passing or grabbing boards. Kobe and LeBron are equal rebounders. LeBron is a better passer but not by a rediculous amount. Kobe is a better/more creative scorer. I take Prime Kobe over LeBron, as you know, evrrrday twice.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Stats. Efficiency. Winning as the best player on a team. MVP’s. You can call them equals in your opinion but what does your opinion mean against facts? Nothing.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Oh and LeBron, like Kobe, at 26, hasn’t reached his prime yet. Even though LeBron’s best season today > Kobe’s best season of his career.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    So just so I understand… Steve Nash is as good as LeBron?

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    ooookay got it. Nash> than Kobe. oooh and “Winning” is what LeBron does that Kobe can’t do. I assure you Lebron is at his Prime. He will add skills, but lose athleticism from this point on. Making him stay the same or get worse.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    So Kobe winning as the main option twice doens’t mean anything. Thats a STAT we’ll ignore right?

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    If you didn’t understand the Scottie pippin analogy I don’t expect you to understand much. You don’t have any evidence for what your saying other then a biased opinion. I’m getting back in town, I don’t have time to spell out the obvious to you anymore. I can’t make the blind see.

  • bonuntr

    As a dyed in the wool Utah Jazz fan, I know what MJ was made of. The game when he came out against the Jazz, while in the midst of a terrible influenza, including IV’s during the game, and put Malone and Stockton away was the most impressive basketball heroics of all time! I just don’t think Kobe has that type of drive or greatness. MJ just put himself in another gear and won. You can say all you want about Kobe, in the end, he just wants to be “Like Mike”!

  • http://Nba.com GP23

    It still amazes me that Kobe only has 1 MVP award throughout his career.

  • bike

    One of the best things about all sports is discussions of who is the best, who is better, and why. All a matter of opinion really. MJ was the first NBA player I saw of that size playing his position that could dominate a game. Aside from unbelievable ability, MJ also was competitive almost to the point of being insane. Kobe has very similar qualities, but in my opinion, he is still a level or two below MJ. I have seen LeBron play at a level that I have never seen a guy that size play at—yet he still seems to lack that certain something that puts him above everyone else. Point is, I can’t put a number on any of these things—it is just a matter of watching them play and forming an opinion. If you eliminate championships from the equation, it’s pretty hard to argue against Wilt as the GOAT. But it seems like championships should factor in—but by how much? What fun, what fun……

  • DeeDaw

    OMG, really??!!!

    Wooowww! This is SUCH a surprise!!! 0______O.

  • DeeDaw

    ATTENTION KOBE BRYANT::

    Kareem passed Jordan but no one thinks he is better thank Jordan.

  • Guilherme

    Go Kobe Go !

  • anen

    So that explains why he’s such a ball hog

  • http://slamonline.com Tae

    Now theres something we agree on seriousblack. Jordan was a better defender. When i was talkin about Kobe’s skill i meant his offense. 3pt range yea, but all around skill i meant footwork, all tha small stuff. But i do agree on defense, i dont even have to think about that one

  • logues

    someone plese explain to me how if kobe hasnt already “caught” mj as far as best player ever, how is he supposed to catch him now? his prime is over, he’s game is starting to decline. so, if he hasnt ever been as good as jordan before, its not going to happen. end of story. in my eyes hes not even that close to jordan. money was on a whole different level. theres mj, then theres everyone else.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    I acknowledged Kobe as being the better player overall. I also said only because of two championships and longevity. But that came after 26 which is the comparitive age my whole argument was based around if you paid attention to what both of us were saying. I can’t even believe some of the sh*t you reply with when your flustered. It’s like your not at all paying attention

  • zach

    Lakeshow: If MVP’s were the only criteria then you’d be right, but I think you know that nerdbk was stating Lebron’s MVPs in combination with those other advantages make Lebron superior. Not MVP’s alone.

  • Van City

    Here’s a breakdown of both players at age 26 and after having played 8 seasons:

    LBJ Kobe Advantage
    0 Rings 3 Kobe
    0 Finals MVP’S 0 Even
    2 Finals Appearances 3 Kobe
    2 MVP’S 0 LBJ
    5 1st Team All NBA 3 LBJ
    2 2nd Team ALL NBA 2 Even
    3 1st Team ALL Def. 3 Even
    0 2nd Team ALL Def. 2 Kobe
    1 Scoring Titles 0 LBJ
    7 All Star Selections 6 LBJ
    2 All Star GM MVP’S 1 LBJ
    Yes Rookie of The Year No LBJ

  • Van City

    LBJ: 27.7 pts / 7.1 rebs / 7.0 ast / 1.7 stls / 0.8 blk / 47.9 fg% / 32.9 3PT% / 74.4 FT%

    Kobe: 21.8 pts / 5.0 rebs / 4.3 ast / 1.5 stl / 0.6 blk / 45.4 FG% / 32.9 3PT% / 83.4 FT%

    LBJ: 17,362 pts/4451 rbs/4364 ats/1079 stl/ 532 blks KOBE: 12,215 pts/2817 rebs/2390 ast/ 826 stl/ 346 blk

    I think it’s very fair to suggest that, after both having played 8 yrs, Lebron is the better player.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Wilt Chamberlain > Michael Jordan

  • Waskito

    Welcome mr tae….you defend your ground with poise. Hope you will comment a lot in this slam forum along side the regular analyst like nbk, lakeshow, bike, enigmatic and all the guys. Love to read it from far away. Me, MJ fan, got all the jordans (originals) till 23. Went to re married at the same chapel Jordan married at LV.

  • Carmelo

    Kobe has better footwork,shooting,and ball handling.Kobe is the over all better player.Kobe is only 6,7,MJ is 6,8.Phil Jackson said that Kobe had more over all skills.

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    I have to agree with nbk on Kobe and Lebron at 26 years old, BUT I don’t think Lebron will really be able to match Kobe’s longevity. Not to mention he has to stop choking when it matters most…and develop a post game, the guy couldn’t successfully post up JJ f*ckin Barea. If he can’t match Kobe’s longevity it doesn’t really look like he’ll pass him in record books unless we’re talking rebounds and assists.

  • josh

    lebron will never be as good as kobe.

  • money

    I think MJ and kobe are tied for first,magic second,and bird third.comment if you agree or not.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    BPhantom, be honest. Did Kobe have success posting up JJ f*ckin Barea or JKidd? I understand being a fan of either player but you have to be realistic with yourself and call it how it really is. Both Bron and Kobe under-performed vs the exact same team, Kobe was unable to take advantage of the small guard lineup Dallas throws out there (JTerry, JKidd, Barea) and Bron was failed to take advantage of being guarded by smaller guys (Stevenson, Kidd, Marion). To call a spade a spade, being a Bron admirer, dude stunk it up (scoring wise) in the finals and I have to say that I was even more disappointed after seeing what he did vs the top 2 defensive teams in the L.

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    @JTaylor As much as I recall Kobe didn’t really try it that often, if at all. You watched the Finals. JJ is like 6’0″, 175 lbs and Lebron failed to take advantage, you think Kobe would do the same? I bring that up because that’s one of the glaring things Lebron must work on.

  • http://www.twitter.com/JoshElam JE

    I was about to argue with an above comment stating that LeBron won’t match Kobe’s longevity, but then I remembered this was an article about Phil Jackson saying Kobe wants to pass Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list.

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