For as long as they their names remain linked to the NBA, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant will always be the topic of debate about who's the better player. With similar playing style and competitive nature, it's kind of hard to pick-and-choose, but one man who got to know both as individuals has weighed in on the comparison.
The NBA's most decorated head coach Phil Jackson has never openly discussed his opinions on the two, but the Los Angeles Times revealed that in his new book, "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success" co-written with Hugh Delehanty, Jackson goes all out to differentiate the two.
Here's what the man who knows both players best had to say.
"Michael was more charismatic and gregarious than Kobe. He loved hanging out with his teammates and security guards, playing cards, smoking cigars, and joking around," Jackson said in the book, which was obtained in advance by The Times.
"Kobe is different. He was reserved as a teenager, in part because he was younger than the other players and hadn't developed strong social skills in college. When Kobe first joined the Lakers, he avoided fraternizing with his teammates. But his inclination to keep to himself shifted as he grew older. Increasingly, Kobe put more energy into getting to know the other players, especially when the team was on the road."
Jackson gave insight to his jabs at Bryant's seemingly annual appearance on the NBA's All-Defensive team as well.
"No question, Michael was a tougher, more intimidating defender. He could break through virtually any screen and shut down almost any player with his intense, laser-focused style of defense," said Jackson, who coached Jordan to six championships and Bryant to five.
"Kobe has learned a lot from studying Michael's tricks, and we often used him as our secret weapon on defense when we needed to turn the direction of a game. In general, Kobe tends to rely more heavily on his flexibility and craftiness, but he takes a lot of gambles on defense and sometimes pays the price."
However, Jackson noted the "pronounced" difference in their accuracy, with Jordan shooting almost 50% - an "extraordinary figure" - while Bryant had been at 45%.
"Michael was more likely to break through his attackers with power and strength, while Kobe often tries to finesse his way through mass pileups," Jackson wrote. "Michael was stronger, with bigger shoulders and a sturdier frame. He also had large hands that allowed him to control the ball better and make subtle fakes.
"Jordan was also more naturally inclined to let the game come to him and not overplay his hand, whereas Kobe tends to force the action, especially when the game isn't going his way. When his shot is off, Kobe will pound away relentlessly until his luck turns. Michael, on the other hand, would shift his attention to defense or passing or setting screens to help the team win the game."
Jackson's "Eleven Rings" will be available for purchase on Tuesday and is definitely a must read for fans.
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