I just feel like if Kobe came first...

[ArbitraryWater]

Everybody would say MJ can't reach him..

[Bandito]

OP will open his mouth wide open?

[Dr Hawk]

More like everybody would say how MJ became GOAT thanks to having the chance of seeing Kobe play during his childhood and without Kobe, MJ wouldn't exist.

[Uncle Drew]

OP is drunk again.

[Gileraracer]

Kobe wouldn't be Kobe without seeing MJ play.

[Goro]

They would say he learned from Kobe and perfected it.

[tontoz]

That talk would have ended after Jordan's rookie year.

[Showtime80']

Kobe mimicked EVERYTHING Jordan did for God's sake!

Jordan on the other hand was an original in every sense of the word even the way he wore his uniform, baggy shorts, color of sneakers, wrist band on the forearm, tongue wagging, bald head!!!

Michael Jordan was a trend setter, Kobe was just a follower! But you have to give him credit for one thing, he's probably the closest anybody will ever come to IMITATING MJ and have great success at it, go down the line and see all of the "Next Jordans" (Hill, Penny, Carter, McGrady) who failed miserably in their attempt.

[Goro]

Kobe mimicked EVERYTHING Jordan did for God's sake!

Jordan on the other hand was an original in every sense of the word even the way he wore his uniform, baggy shorts, color of sneakers, wrist band on the forearm, tongue wagging, bald head!!!

Michael Jordan was a trend setter, Kobe was just a follower! But you have to give him credit for one thing, he's probably the closest anybody will ever come to IMITATING MJ and have great success at it, go down the line and see all of the "Next Jordans" (Hill, Penny, Carter, McGrady) who failed miserably in their attempt.
I don't think they were truly trying to imitate Jordan. The media called them the next Jordans because they were desperately searching for one.

[Magic 32]

It would help Kobe to play in that era for sure.

But MJ changed the game.

You can't replicate that.

He is going to be number 1 until someone wins 6+ rings with Wilt-like stats.

[buddha]

if there was no MJ the debate for GOAT would actually be interesting and Kobe would be in everyone's top 5.

[Goro]

if there was no MJ the debate for GOAT would actually be interesting and Kobe would be in everyone's top 5.
Why would removing 1 player move him up 7 spots?

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

:oldlol:

Kobe would've swagger jacked David Thompson and Doctor J. There's no alternate universe where Bean doesn't mimic Jordan somehow.

[buddha]

Why would removing 1 player move him up 7 spots?

because Kobe is like a poor man's version of the greatest of all-time and that makes him look worse than he is.

without MJ being a better version of Kobe, Kobe is now the greatest SG of all-time and a tied for the most championships of all-time greats in the modern era. without MJ's ridiculous stats to compare to, Kobe's look a lot better, this is true for all perimeter players even LeBron.

There would be a consensus top 5 and it would look like

Kobe
LeBron
Magic
KAJ
Bird

no order and this is obviously not accounting for who won championships during the 90's since there's 6 up for grabs. The Lakers probably get another, Magic and KAJ would be atop everyone's list. Barkley probably gets one, Hakeem might get one or two more and be higher on peoples list. Maybe Shaq gets one with the Magic. Stockton and Malone probably get atleast one.

[SexSymbol]

Kobe mimicked EVERYTHING Jordan did for God's sake!

Jordan on the other hand was an original in every sense of the word even the way he wore his uniform, baggy shorts, color of sneakers, wrist band on the forearm, tongue wagging, bald head!!!

Michael Jordan was a trend setter, Kobe was just a follower! But you have to give him credit for one thing, he's probably the closest anybody will ever come to IMITATING MJ and have great success at it, go down the line and see all of the "Next Jordans" (Hill, Penny, Carter, McGrady) who failed miserably in their attempt.
that's just not true completely.
He imitated dr.J A LOT.

[Prime_Shaq]

that's just not true completely.
He imitated dr.J A LOT.
David Thompson too I believe, the GOAT's idol

[Showtime80']

Jordan may have PATTERNED his high flying attacking style after the Doc and Thompson but their games and movements on the court look NOTHING ALIKE!!!

Kobe looks like a guy who COPIED EVERYTHING even mannerisms from the "Come Fly With Me" video. It's kind of ridiculous and unoriginal but like I said give him credit for winning 5 titles and amassing and amazing career doing it. Can't deny his competitive spirit even though it got kind of pathetic after a while when he LOVED telling EVERYONE how much of a competitive killer he was.

Don't even get me started on the "Black Mamba" self appointed nickname! LOL!

[sportjames23]

How can the son come before the father?

[SexSymbol]

Jordan may have PATTERNED his high flying attacking style after the Doc and Thompson but their games and movements on the court look NOTHING ALIKE!!!

Kobe looks like a guy who COPIED EVERYTHING even mannerisms from the "Come Fly With Me" video. It's kind of ridiculous and unoriginal but like I said give him credit for winning 5 titles and amassing and amazing career doing it. Can't deny his competitive spirit even though it got kind of pathetic after a while when he LOVED telling EVERYONE how much of a competitive killer he was.

Don't even get me started on the "Black Mamba" self appointed nickname! LOL!
Yeah, he mimicked his fade away, pretty much it, he has a different dunking style, he runs differently too. They walk kind of the same, but they're both 6-6 with near identical weight.
Every competetive guy likes to remind everyone how competitive they are, same with MJ, Bird, Magic and so on, they still do it in interviews.

[tmacattack33]

Everybody would say MJ can't reach him..

:facepalm

Uhh, no.

Did people say that MJ couldn't pass Oscar or Dr. J?

[tmacattack33]

I just feel like if Kobe didn't get so lucky (actually, reports say it wasn't luck...he and his agent maneuvered it) as to be drafted by the Lakers and get to play with Shaq and Gasol/Odom/Artest, that he would be around top 25 right now. Wade would definitely be above him.

[ArbitraryWater]

I feel like if Kobe came first, he would never have someone to dedicate his entire game after.. imagine what he would have been.

[Dr Hawk]

I feel like if Kobe came first, he would never have someone to dedicate his entire game after.. imagine what he would have been.

Yeah, imagine, he wouldn't even be Top 12. Top 30 and thanks

[ShawkFactory]

Kobe is a less dominant version of Jordan. If Kobe came first then Jordon would have been a more dominant version of Kobe.

[jstern]

OP will open his mouth wide open?
This was a funny comment. But people missed it.

[jongib369]

that's just not true completely.
He imitated dr.J A LOT.
Did you know he never actually saw Doc play until he was in the NBA? I think he heard games on the Radio, but he never got to see him on TV.

(Can't find where I read/saw that. But I'm certain he said he was more influenced by David because of this)

[jongib369]

Jordan would of eventually passed him regardless...Even if they had a switched ring count. Better on D, O and a bit more efficient, more athletic/superior measurments.

Stans take it to the extreme, saying no one will ever touch Jordan. But in Kobes case, he never had a chance at passing him. Partly due to being physically inferior

[Marchesk]

I really feel like if Dr J, Elgin Baylor, Connie Hawkins, Jerry West and David Thompson came first ...

Oh wait.

[scm5]

It would help Kobe to play in that era for sure.

But MJ changed the game.

You can't replicate that.

He is going to be number 1 until someone wins 6+ rings with Wilt-like stats.

You know, I kinda feel like this player won't put up Wilt like stats, but more Curry-like stats.

Curry seems to be influencing a whole generation of shooters.

His impact on the court is tremendous because of the attention he draws and how quickly/efficiently he can score.