SUMMARY
- Kobe Bryant was the closest to emulate Michael Jordan's game.
- Both individuals are also considered as two of the greatest players in the NBA history.
When people debate who the greatest player of all time is, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are two individuals who have had eerily similar careers. Of course, Jordan came into the league over a decade before Bryant came into the limelight. MJ had also won four NBA titles before Bryant was drafted into the league. Ironically, neither of them were top picks in their respective draft classes, which proves that anybody can achieve greatness if they put their minds to it.
Jordan was already being called the greatest basketball player of all time. He set the tone for individuals who aspired to be in the league and his legacy remains untouched over 20 years after his retirement. Several experts have often compared them to each other claiming Bryant was the closest to embody the game of the former Chicago Bulls player.
During an exclusive interview with Ahmad Rashad on NBA TV, Jordan had some words regarding Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, another star who has challenged his legacy. He said, “In terms of dominance of the game of basketball at this stage, it’s LeBron. Championship-wise, Kobe Bryant.” Jordan also claimed that Bryant showed the same hunger he had to succeed. Many others have had the same opinion on Bryant as well.
Doc Rivers and Luke Walton are two coaches who have previously worked with Bryant. They claimed that he was the closest replication of Jordan’s game. The Los Angeles Lakers legend once stated, “What you get from me is from him. I don’t get five championships here without him, because he guided me so much and gave me so much great advice.” These words were taken from The Last Dance documentary.
Michael Jordan vs Kobe Bryant defensive stats comparison
Most of us would agree that Kobe Bryant has multiple similarities to Michael Jordan. They were both top five on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Bryant won multiple titles, MVPs along with All-NBA selections and whatnot, just like Jordan. They are possibly two of the greatest shooting guards the league has ever seen. Even though they were dominant scorer, Bryant and Jordan were also known for their defensive IQs.
Kobe would make 1000 shots a day in practice.
He studied film for hours on how Michael Jordan played defense. He worked and worked, just like Jordan.
It become automatic, when in the game. pic.twitter.com/Qzz4XJOjO6— floridanow1 (@floridanow1) March 17, 2024
Throughout his career, Michael Jordan averaged at least 2 steals and one block per game. During the 1987-88 season, Jordan erupted averaging 3.2 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. Between 1984 and 1993, Jordan consistently averaged over 2 steals per game. He was extremely good at reading plays and tackling his opponents. And even at the age of 40, managed to average 20 points and 1.5 steals per game. Defense was one of his biggest strengths according to the numbers.
Some of these characteristics were seen in Kobe Bryant’s game as well. Over 20 seasons, Bryant averaged 1.4 steals and 0.5 blocks per game. He barely touched what Jordan brought in numbers, however, he was a pioneer in maneuvering defensive sequences and playing smartly against offenses
While Jordan and Bryant never had too many blocks, they rank within the top 20 athletes in all-time steals recorded. Jordan ranks fourth on the list with 2,514 steals while Bryant finished with the 16th most steals recorded (1944).
Has Kobe Bryant ever won a DPOY over Michael Jordan?
Unfortunately, Kobe Bryant never got to hold the Defensive Player of the Year Trophy, despite being recognized as one of the league’s best defenders. Bryant finished among the top three in DPOY votes thrice during this career, while reaching the top 15 nine times. The Lakers legend had nine All-Defensive First Team selections and three All-Defensive Second Team selections.
A DPOY Award is possibly what could end this debate between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. In 1988, MJ was recognized for his defensive efforts and was the winner of the DPOY Award that year. Jordan has never been selected to an All-Defensive Second Team while he has nine First Team selections as well. Mike also led the league in steals thrice in 15 seasons, which is something Bryant has never achieved.
Based on the accolades and numbers, it is safe to say Michael Jordan was more of a defensive juggernaut than Kobe Bryant. But this doesn’t mean Bryant wasn’t any good on defense. When it comes to playing team sports, each player has a particular role to work on. While Jordan was a centerpiece of defensive players, Bryant was mostly the mastermind of his team’s defensive schemes.