Why Kobe/Jordan Debate Is Closer Than It Seems

[MiamiHeat]

Kobe isn't even better than LeBron

There are many categories to compare, but the top three offensive statistics offer the best starting ground. Kobe Bryant averages 25.1 points per game, 5.3 assists per game, while shooting 45 percent from the field. The Cavs LeBron James averages 27.5 points per game, 6.6 assists per game and shoots 47 percent. The most obvious assessment here is that LeBron is better in every key offensive category. Interestingly, Kobe is known as a much better outside shooter, yet he is only a fraction better from 3-point range than LeBron (34 percent to 32 percent).

[HarlemHeat37]

I find it strange that people actually try to argue for Kobe in this comparison..it's such a waste of time..there's actually no possible argument you can make..Kobe also benefits from the most revisionist history of ANY athlete in ANY sports league, I've never seen anybody even come close..

In every year that he has more team success, everybody forgets his failures of the past or exaggerates his roles in the past..apparently he became the clear #1 option on the 3-peat all of a sudden after winning this last le..apparently people forgot that he had one of the worst NBA Finals in history in 2004..he let his team choke a 24-point lead in the NBA Finals, which basically killed their chances in the series..his team blew a 3-1 lead vs. Phoenix..

Even if you ignore everything else and focus on his massive failures, how can he even have any kind of argument against some of these other top 8 or whatever of all-time, let alone the GOAT?..

[kingmalaki]

Kobe shoots a lot more 3s than Jordan did which lowers his FG%. So you can't just compare FG% straight up to get a true picture since a lower percentage 3pt shot gives you more points. Shooting 35% from three is the same as shooting 52.5% from the field shooting 2pt shots in terms of point production.

"Jordan averaged 1.316 points per field goal attempt in his career, while Kobe has averaged 1.312 points per field goal attempt..

On average, when Jordan shot 20 times, he scored 26.3 points, while Kobe averages 26.2 points per every 20-shot attempts."

Efficiency per FG attempt is basically dead even between Jordan and Kobe.

So Kobe is forced to take more 3's or does he choose to?

[mystargtr34]

I was hoping someone else would make this argument, since i cant really be bothered... but i may aswell..

PPS is an equally flawed stat as FG% (mogrovejo already mentioned)... because it doesnt take into account a players ability to get to the line and make those FT's The only stat that really measures 2 point field goals, 3 point field goalsand free throw shooting, into one %, is TS%. So to be fair, we should use this when comparing the two players.

Since the OP took out Kobe's first three seasons... we should take Jordans Wizards days out, and also the last two seasons of his Bulls career. That way we compare the two players through to the same age.

Jordans first 12 seasons... TS%

.592%
.533% (18 games)
.562%
.603%
.614%
.606%
.605%
.579%
.564%
.493% (17 games)
.582%

Average - .590%

Kobe (after his first 3 seasons) TS%...

.546%
.552%
.544%
.550%
.551%
.563%
.559%
.580%
.576%
.561%
.565%

Average - .559%

This shows that there isnt as big a difference between their true efficiency on offense as their raw FG% might show, because Kobe took more 3 point shots... but there is still a considerable difference in efficiency between the two. Remember this is taking out Jordan's Wizards years, as well as his final two years as a Bull. So up until he was 32, the same age Kobe will be by season's end (or close to). Those Bulls years wont impact the numbers much, but its probably better/easier to compare the two through the same age.