Thursday, December 6th, 2012 at 2:10 pm  |  132 responses

David Stern Puts Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan on the Same Pedestal


It was a historic night for Kobe Bryant, as he became the youngest NBA player ever to reach 30,000 career points. Commissioner David Stern happened to be on hand for the game, and said Kobe and Michael Jordan belong on the same pedestal. (Incidentally, Bryant is now just 2,276 points away from reaching MJ’s total.) From the LA Daily News: “I want to shake his hand. I think Kobe as a talent and a competitor, he’s up there on the pedestal with Michael Jordan as one of the greatest ever,’ Stern said. ‘Kobe has had such an extraordinary run playing at the highest level for so long and the championships to prove it in a league that is extremely competitive. Kobe and the Lakers have been an important part of the league and I wish them well for this season and beyond.’ Stern still provided little sympathy for the Lakers having to pay harsh luxury tax penalties because of a $100 million payroll. The Lakers, after all, are in the first year of a lucrative 20-year deal with Time Warner Cable. ‘It’s one component of Lakers income that gets accounted for when they make a payment in the revenue sharing pool,’ Stern said of the team’s cable deal. ‘There’s more money to be shared. The combination of that and the tax tend to act as a brake on team spending.’”

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  • Caboose

    West? Interesting, I didn’t know he was a post up player.

  • Anonymous

    watch some footage man, wilt routinely reached 12’8″ on rebounds! he could touch the top of the backboard which dwight and shaq couldn’t do. he was over 7’1″ in socks in todays league he would probably be listed at 7’3″. he reportedly had a vert of over 40 inches (at least in college and philly) and he was way more than just a dunker. he had a post fadeaway, a bankshot, a little free throw line jumper, hooks with both hands, was a willing and amazing passer. he was just an all around superior talent and would dominate any era. could you imagine chris bosh or brook lopez trying to D up the stilt? game over. he wouldn’t score 100 or average 50 but he would still be an MVP level player, easily.

  • Drig

    Kobe played in an O which didn’t cater to his strengths. Kobe played his prime in the minus handchecking but with zone era, which obviously makes it tough for superstar players like Kobe.

    Perspective.

  • Junior Taylor

    I thought you’re talking strictly in terms of one’s ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor (offense/defense). West was absolutely the greatest 2-way SG until MJ came onto the scene.

  • Caboose

    No no no, 2-way as in perimeter and post play.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    You aren’t worth it.

  • KC

    Kobe is an MJ imitation. The same way a chrysler 300 is an imitation of a Bentley. The 300 is a great car but only until the Bentley pulls up. He is a volume shooter and has excelled at little else on the court. Average Passing, rebounding, leadership and overrated defense ability. I think this is in part due to the fact that he was trying to be Jordan and thought that was all about jacking up shots and still does. With that said he is still an all time great and a top 20 player in my opinion. People love to bring up his rings but he has been probably the most fortunate player in terms of having good teammates bar none. The lakers are able to reload year after year because players like LA and for some reason G.M’s are stupid enough to keep funneling them talent. What other player in this era has had even close to the talent that kobe got to play with? Absoulutely no one! When you think about all of the lakers Championships with Kobe he barely has any huge defining games or memorable moments. Shaq was the key to the first three and then Gasol for the next two. Now once again The Lakers get handed Nash and Howard. It won’t be popular i’m sure but it’s just my opinion

  • dam

    ‘These two have made me much money, and I love them for that’

  • The Fury

    Most of the people doesn’t want to look it that way. He clearly EARNED/WORKED everything to get where he is right now.

  • rande3p

    man some of these folks have comments that are hilarious… just look at skill and the stuff he does on the court.. hey stat geeks.. the dude is mega!

  • liz

    kobe will surpass mj in points:)

  • elmaar

    To me his selfishness and lack of true leadership has negated him as a player and in a way made his teams underachieve. Duncan at the same time has been the complete opposite which led Spurs to winning ships and being bona fide title contenders for since he came into the league and still going. So when someone is talking as if Kobe is somewhere near GOAT status I beg to differ and point out that it’s not that close.

  • Drig

    :( …………But I don’t see how I’m mistaken…….. We discussed about this and you did say that the reasons were plausible….. :(

  • 1fgmtnbyker

    I Kobe didn’t play with Shaq for all those years he would’ve passed 30,000 a long time ago and probably be passed MJ. The offense ran through Shaq back then.

  • pposse

    Wilt still would be Wilt in this league, atleast has a good chance to be (dont forget he was a straight up athlete running marathons champion volleyball player). And MJ would still dominate the league too in this day and age. So long as they are privy to the same training regimen/staff etc. then why wouldn’t they? Its the MENTAL aspect thats so different with the guys from yesteryear. It has nothing to do with IQ of the game, but mindset, I just do not see players now built with the mindset of these guys from the past at all.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Gilbert/100001749589586 Mike Gilbert

    I understand what you are saying and respect your points, but at the same time you know the man has legendary work ethic. And the 5 rings cannot be denied.

  • pposse

    has anyone every thought that the era in which Duncan was winning his rings was possibly the worse era in NBA history? I mean ofcourse now still TMac, VC, Iverson, etc. etc. are relevant and fan favorites, but like 30 years from now those guys will be completely forgotten by the next generation. Kids born right now are probably not gonna know anything about VC, Tmac or Iverson. I just see Duncan being one of the first to lose the ranks as top ten out of all the guys mentioned in Caboose’s post. Just look who the spurs had to go thru for the rings (sprewell, houston, camby? really?!…kidd jefferson kmart? you can’t be serious…pistons? well the pistons were legit. Lebron? a 22 yr old with no supporting cast?) Its not the spurs/duncans fault per say, but those finals were all wack (besides pistons).

  • Fat Lever

    People don’t realize that you put Wilt in today’s league, he has access to today’s training methods/technology. So saying he would be marginal is not valid to me. But again, this is all hypothetical anyway, so…..

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    because, shooting %, specifically among Guards, hasn’t changed from Jordan’s era to Kobe’s. Defenses stronger, yes, but the effect that has had is on slowing the game down (which given the perspective i’ve already provided, should say even more about how much Kobe shoots the ball). Efficiency wise, we are currently in an era with the most efficient perimeter high-volume scorer of all-time (Kevin Durant), so it’s pretty foolish to try and chalk up the difference between Kobe and Jordan to era. Perspective.
    .
    The reason I don’t want to get into it with you, is because you are a flaming Kobe blowhard who doesn’t see anything from a non-Kobe-ontop of the world perspective. So it’s not worth it. For example, you will probably argue with the FACTS i just used.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    i’m with @juniortaylor:disqus on this, if someone is operating under the impression Kobe is anything less than an all-time great, top 10(ish) player, 2nd all-time in terms of SG’s, and a top 5 scorer, then their opinion shouldn’t even be considered…..like the guy below this comment.

  • Grant Trill

    Jordan led the league in shots per game every year he played & punched out Steve Kerr in practice. Tell me again how he’s not near GOAT status? Kobe’s not a vocal leader; but neither was Larry Bird. They led by example with their focus & work ethic. Combine that with his natural skill-set, his status as a Top 5 scorer in NBA history & the fact he was the most dominate perimeter player in the world for an entire decade, it’s fair to say he’s Top 5 all-time.

  • LakeShow

    I agree with all this.
    Minus the vert. Probably 36-38″ at his peak. Which is incredible.

  • robb

    skill wise and you’re putting Shaq above the Dream? That’s just wrong dude.

  • LakeShow

    *Skill wise and capability wise*
    Shaq was more capable at his peak than Hakeem. Hakeem was always more skilled than Shaq.
    #ReadingComprehension.

  • http://twitter.com/Jzakoni Sanchez

    yezzir

  • http://twitter.com/Jzakoni Sanchez

    cmon d stern!

  • Stephen A. Smith

    Kobe’s the 2nd greatest player ever, he said it himself.
    http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhC6mUZdhlDc6gtbW9

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    i’m totally with you

  • BrownJesus

    Shaq had some of the most dominant seasons of anyone, but his lack of longevity should hurt his overall career when compared to the other great players. I think he is too high on your list for that reason.

  • manu

    shut up

    6 for 6 with 6 rings and 6 finals mvps

    all that needs to be said

    kobe wasn’t even the best player on the 00-02 laker teams

  • manu

    who the hell cares if he plays like jordan

    its funny cuz wilt, russell, kareem, magic, bird, shaq, duncan don’t play like jordan and they all r better overall players than kobe

  • http://www.facebook.com/koombuy.pride Koombuy Pride

    amen

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