One week ago today the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the 2011 playoffs after being swept by the Dallas Mavericks. Swept. Out in four. Demolished and humiliated in game four, losing by 30+ points. I purposely waited a week to write this blog so I could properly reflect and assess my thought and feelings on the Lakers star player, Kobe Bryant.
Kobe is no doubt uber-talented, driven, focused and a tremendous competitor. But, what is his legacy? When it's all said and done, what will be his legacy, how will he be portrayed in the conversations of the all time greats? Will he really be mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan, who he is so often compared to? My answer is no, and here's why.
I'm an unabashed Michael Jordan fan, anybody who knows me knows that, but I don't hate Kobe Bryant. I really appreciate the fact that since he's been in the league Kobe has worked harder than anyone in the NBA to improve his skills every single year. Having said that, you can't ignore the fact that he still leaves a lot to be desired as a player, especially as a teammate.
To really deconstruct why Kobe never has been, nor never will be on the same level as Jordan, you first have to note the comparisons. Both played shooting guard, close to the same height, same weight, evolved their games throughout their careers, similar stats, and similar number of championships. On paper, the case can absolutely be made that they are very close to one another as players. However, for those who have actually really ever watched them play, the differences are glaring.
Kobe Bryant has won five NBA championships, Michael Jordan has won six. However, Jordan has never had the lapses that Kobe has throughout his career. In being swept by the Dallas Mavericks, Kobe scored 36 points in game 1, and then in games 2-4, he scored, 23, 17, and 17, all while being guarded mostly by an aging Jason Kidd. Does anyone on the planet think that with a season on the line and his team playing horribly that Michael Jordan would have not scored less than 40+ points in each of those games. It's absolute single most defining difference between Jordan and Bryant. Both are clearly fierce competitors, but Kobe will quit. Jordan never quit, ever. Kobe will accept losing and pout, and blame his teammates, all while hiding under the premise that his teammates let him down. Both are notorious assholes, Jordan had no problem literally punching teammates for not performing, but Jordan never quit on a basketball court. If his teammates weren't performing Jordan would get upset, but he would simply try and win a game by himself. His competitive spirit would not allow him to even consider doing anything but short of killing someone to win a game. I will never forget in 2007, in a game seven against the Phoenix Suns, Bryant literally pouted on the court in the second half. Down by fifteen at halftime, Kobe proceeded to take three shots in the second half, and was passing up wide open opportunities every time they came his way. In the deciding game of that season, he shoved it in the faces of his teammates that weren't good enough to win without him. In the same situation, Jordan would have come out and taken 30 shots, and if the Bulls lost he would have chewed every single teammates rear end in the locker room, but he would have never publicly quit.
There's still a chance that Kobe can equal, if not pass the number of championships that Jordan has won. I still say his five are not nearly as impressive as Jordan's six. Three of Kobe's championships were won when he was the second best player on the team behind Shaquille O' Neal. Jordan always had Scottie Pippen for his six, but there's one major difference. Jordan made Scottie better, he elevated his game. Bryant never made Shaq better, he's never made any teammate better. He finds ways to co-exist with them, all while expecting them to be able to adjust to however he's playing. There were absolutely times when Jordan was lifted by his teammates (the sixth game of the '92 Finals is a perfect example) but there was never time when Jordan just expected his teammates to win a game while he sulked. Jordan burned with desire to win championships, Kobe burns with the desire to win championships and being recognized as the reason why.
For me, Kobe is a fantastic player and when he retires I think he'll legitimately be considered one of the ten greatest players. The comparisons with Jordan have to stop though, Kobe is clearly not wired the same way as Jordan, and that's the major difference between the two of them. In any given situation Jordan would try and win a game one vs. five if he had to. In the same situation, Kobe would force his teammates to win a game four vs. five, because he would quit and let them take the blame. I honestly don't know what to make of Kobe Bryant, but I can't help but the shake the feeling that despite all of his achievements, and talent, and accolades, he may actually underachieved. We'll never actually know how many games Kobe may have decided to teach his teammates a lesson in, but I do know in at least a couple of the most high profile situations he has decided to not be as good as he could, and that's what keeps me from loving Kobe Bryant as a player.
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