Is Kobe the Greatest Basketball player ever?

I don't think he is right now. If you go by statistical dominance, then Wilt Chamberlain is the answer. If you go by team play

and unselfishness, then the answer is Bill Russell. If you

go by the most wellrounded player of alltime, I think Oscar

Robertson would be the answer. If you're talking about

pure athletic ability and attacking the basket in terms of

offense, whether going one or one, or against a zone

defense, or breaking defenses, then yes, he's up there.

I think in terms of pure shooting, Kobe is superior to

Michael. Michael had a high field goal percentage in

the early part of his career for a guard, is because he

drove to the basket for easier shots, similar to what

Tony Parker and Steve Nash do. Kobe takes more

difficult jump shots, something that Michael did later

in his career. The farther you are away from the target,

in this case the basket, the more difficult it is to score.

That's why Michael's field goal percentage dropped

over the years. He didn't drive to the basket as much

for dunks and layups as he did in his youth, forcing

him to being a jump shooter. It's easier to miss a 2

point field goal attempt when it is a jump shot, compared

to when it is a layup or dunk. Sure, there are missed

layups and dunks, but the frequency isn't as much as

a missed jump shot. Michael, for all his bad habits,

was probably not only great at dribble penetration and driving to the basket, but also one of the 5 best low post players of alltime, besides Wilt Chamberlain, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, and Hakeem Olajuwon. When Kobe's career is over, he might be the greatest ever, or he might

not be. I prefer not to anoint the Greatest ever in any sport, until the career is over, or when it is clearly evident that player's achievements are clearly superior to any other

player in that sport. Another thing you should note for selecting criteria for the Greatest Ever in any sport,

everyone must be evaluated by the same criteria, or

it is not a valid evaluation, since all players or athletes

must be evaluated since the beginning of the existence

of the sport. That's why when jordon jockers bring up Michael's MVP awards (regular season, allstar game

and playoffs), All NBA, All Defensive and other achievements, they conveniently forget some of these

awards and categories weren't around since the

inception of the league. Kobe is definitely a better

pure shooter than Michael ever was from the field.

For example, the 3 point line was introduced to the NBA

during the 1979-80 season, while blocked shots and

steals I believe were introduced during mid 1970s. The

MVP award was introduced only during the 1955-56

season. The ick9 must be a jordon jocker, since Michael

didn't play on crappy teams that won championships.

The 1990-91 Bulls had a record of 61-21, and went 15-2

in the playoffs. They had the #2 RPI in the league, the

best rated offense, and the #6 rated defense. The 1991-

92 Bulls won 67 games, had the best record in the league,

#1 RPI, #1 offense, and the #4 defense. The 1992-93

Bulls were arguably the weakest of the first 3peat Bulls

teams. They still managed to have the #3 offense and

#8 defense in the NBA and were third in RPI. The only

two teams with better records during the regular season

were the Knicks and Suns, and the Bulls managed to beat

both teams in the playoffs, so no one can say didn't have to

earn their way to the title. The 1995-96 Bulls won 72 games

and went 15-2 in the playoffs, were #1 in offense, defense,

and RPI. The 1996-97 Bulls won 69 games, and were #1

in offense, #4 in defense, and #1 in RPI. The 1997-98

Bulls were #9 in offense and #3 on defense, and #1

on RPI. They tied with Utah for the league's best record,

but lost out on home court advantage, because Utah

won the head to head series with the Bulls that season.

4 of the titles they won were during seasons where they

had the league's best record, or tied for the best (1992,

1996,1997 and 1998. When they won their first title in

1991, they had the second best record during the

regular season, only behind Portland. The 1993 Bulls

were arguably the weakest Bulls championship teams,

but they still had the third best regular season record

that season, trailing only the Knicks and Suns, teams

they managed to eliminate during the playoffs.

wow some people need to lay off the pipe. i understand that when ur on top, ur gonna have the most haters but this is outrageous. someone even suggested he's not the greatest laker ever and said Magic was better!? WTF?!? that's just insulting. anyway, yes kobe bryant is the greatest to ever play the game. there are things u can and can't control and things that have to go ur way for people to perceive you in just the right light so that ur recorded in history favorably but when looking objectively at the game of basketball without regard to personality and off-court troubles and all the skills it requires to play the game, kobe bryant has thus far the greatest mastery of the skills of the game than anyone has had in history. Michael is a close second and is physically more gifted than kobe, but kobe just has every move MJ did and then some. he's like MJ taken to a whole new level. like buying a sweet car then suping it up!

It's hard to say who the best player of all is. So much of the game relies on the team.

However, Jordan won Championships with crappy teams. Think about it. Other than Pippen, he really didn't have much help. So with that, MJ is a far more dominant player than Kobe.

In fact, Kobe isn't even the best player today so why is this even a question? We should be talking about LeBron's future. He currently has the best chance of being the next best player.

Kobe could have been the next Jordan, but he's too ignorant and stubborn to take the necessary steps. Shaq would have gotten along fine with Jordan.

C'mon wolf, pull your head out man. If Kobe's so great, then why couldn't he take his mediocre teammates to the Finals like Lebron did? How many Finals MVP's and NBA MVP's has he won? A big fat 0!!!! Compare that with the likes of Jordan, Magic or Russell. Kobe won't even be in the top 25 all time.

Did you eat paint chips as a kid? Kobe Bryant is a good player- top 30 but he is not the greatest player ever nor will he ever be. He needs to wake up and realize that the reason that his team sucks is him. He can't be trusted to go to any team with a superstar- he'll chase him away. If Kobe wants to win some championships he would stay in L.A. and trust Dr. Bus- he knows what he's doing.

Come on Alpha. You know just as I do that it's very hard to say who's the greatest basketball player of all time. I'll say MJ based on the fact that I've seen him play personally...you'll say Kobe based on the same thing...my dad (RIP) said that Jabbar is due to the same thing...and my uncle says that Kobe, MJ, Magic & Bird couldn't wash Oscar Robertson's shoes, but that's because he lived in Milwaukee all through the 60's and 70's.

I cherish the memories that MJ's Bulls gave me and my family, but I'll never force my opinion of greatest of all time on someone, because everyone will not share that sentiment, thus turning into resentment towards me. Soon people will hate you as well as Kobe.

If Kobe becomes greatest of all time...he'll do it on the court in a fashion that cannot be argued...and even then...there will be people who wont agree with it.

But if he does...I'll give him his credit. Every era has the so called "greatest of all time".

We should be asking you...Will Kobe be traded to my Bulls in this 3 team deal with Boston & Washington.

Well in all nba history i say Michael Jordan is teh best player ever. But the best player playing right now is Kobe. People say Kobe is a ball hog and stuff but they don't say that Wilt was ball hog when he got 100 points.

Kobe is the best player now.

But no, not the best basketball player ever.

Jordan played against some of the toughest and hardest teams to beat that were filled with legends. Magic, Bird, Thomas. This guy had to beat the best, and soon became known as the best because he was able to do so.

I believe that is why everyone claims that Jordan is the best player of all time.

Yes, Kobe has done magnificent things in his career, but not as great as Jordan.

But Kobe's career isn't over. You still don't know what is left to come from him.

It's hard to stop Kobe, he might score a lot of points but he is not a championship competitor, so I wouldn't consider Kobe the greatest basketball player. The player who is the greatest basketball player ever is...we all know it, it's Michael Jordan. Period.

kobe is not even the best right now! dirk nowitzki is better, as is lebron james and timmy duncan, and KG.

point number 2- jordan isnt the best ever... 6 championships in 12 years or more and russel had 11 in 13... also Jordan had an all star team around him, rodman, pippen,longley,kerr, ect