Luka’s Corner

For the past two months, ever since the Lakers stormed through the postseason and reached the Finals, all I have heard about Kobe Bryant (and I have heard a lot about Kobe Bryant) is how he is not only the best player on the planet, but how he is also the next Michael Jordan. Up until now, I have accepted this and the media’s desperate desire to have a Michael Jordan every fifteen years, but I cannot fall for it anymore. The only thing that Kobe Bryant and the greatest to ever play the game have in common is that they have an identical turnaround jump shot.

In terms of the NBA last year, LeBron James thoroughly outplayed his Laker counter part. I do not even know how you can say that Kobe is better than LeBron when LBJ averaged 30 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.1 BPG, and 1.8 SPG during the 07-08 season. Kobe, on the other hand, averaged 28.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 5.4 APG, 0.5 BPG, and 1.8 SPG in 07-08. James has a clearly better stat line than Bryant, averaging more points, rebounds, and assists. Even FG% is in LeBron’s favor, since he shot 48.4% from the field. Kobe shot 45.9%. The only stats that are in the Laker’s favor are free-throw percentage and three-point percentage, and I agree that the Laker is a better shooter than the Cavalier. But, if you dominate the point/rebound/assist/block/steal part of the stat line, there should not be a doubt who the better player is, at least statistically.

In terms of team play, which is more important than statistics, nobody in their right mind can say that Kobe Bryant plays a larger role for his team than LeBron James. LeBron plays an even larger role because he handles the ball for the Cavs, scores for the Cavs, passes the ball for the Cavs, and rebounds for the Cavs. Kobe relies on Derek Fisher to handle the ball and on Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum to rebound the ball.

Let’s also not forget that, without Kobe Bryant, the Lakers would still be a Playoff team. They would have one of the best centers in the league, a star power forward, a versatile small forward, and an experienced point guard (not to mention a deep bench). I would also argue that they would be a more cohesive unit without someone ordering them around on the floor, like the Lakers’ “leader” did throughout the season. The Cavaliers would have Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Anderson Varejao, Sasha Pavlovic, Daniel Gibson, and Delonte West. To say the least, there is no discussion.

Over his career, I have to ask what Kobe has done. He won three championships with Shaquille O’Neal, the most physically dominant center in the history of the NBA. His ego was responsible for destroying that epic relationship. His image was, for some, permanently shattered when he was accused of sexual assault. He has also been criticized countless times for calling out his teammates (like his young center, Andrew Bynum) off the court and being selfish on it. And, by my count, he remains a THREE-time NBA Champion and ONE-time MVP (compared to Jordan’s six championships, five league MVP’s, and two Olympic medals). The one thing I am not saying is that LeBron will match Michael Jordan in career achievement. He will eventually win an NBA title and will collect his share of MVP’s (he is only 24), but that does not mean that either Kobe or LeBron will be as great as Michael Jordan.

To make it short, the media and the league itself needs a new version of MJ and they, unfortunately for the modern-day #23, have settled on #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers.