Most NBA fans who are capable of critical analysis and don’t have Lakers logos tattooed on their legs have determined that LeBron James has had a better NBA career than Kobe Bryant did. This is no diss to Kobe, an all-time great in his own right. It’s just that LeBron has won four MVPs, reached eight NBA Finals and revolutionized his position (and arguably the league). LeBron is a top-3 player of all-time, Kobe is something a bit less than that.
In fact, there’s only one real argument for Kobe over LeBron, and it is this: ringzzzzz.
By basic arithmetic, Kobe has more NBA titles (five) than LeBron (three). This is, of course, a product of not only the players’ abilities, but also their teammates, their opponents and the random whims of NBA luck, making it an awfully simplistic argument.
Among those who believe in that unpersuasive logic? Consensus GOAT Michael Jordan. Speaking to a camp full of kids this week, Jordan said this:
“Would I rank LeBron over Kobe? In terms of best of all time? No. No. There’s just something about five that beats three. Kobe won five championships, LeBron won three.”
Yep, that man is in charge of an NBA franchise. It’s no wonder the Charlotte Hornets are never good.
Of course, by M.J.’s logic, he’s actually not the greatest basketball player ever. That would be Bill Russell. After all, there’s something about 11 that beats six.
We should note that Jordan has a personal stake in the LeBron-Kobe debate. While Kobe is retired and can’t rack up any more stats, LeBron has time left to supplant Jordan as the GOAT. Some people believe he’s already there. But as long as we believe ringzzzzz are all that matter, Jordan ranks convincingly ahead of both LeBron and Kobe, as well as Magic, Kareem, Larry, Wilt, Duncan, Shaq, Hakeem, Jerry, Oscar, etc.
Basically we’re all just living in that “Bad Teacher” movie trailer. MJ just pulled an, “It’s the only argument I need Shawn.”
