Michael Jordan said if he had his druthers, he would take Kobe Bryant over LeBron James.
During an interview with NBA-TV, Jordan acknowledged James’ current dominance of the NBA. But for Jordan, winning is the ultimate measure of a great player’s greatness, and Bryant’s five rings with the Los Angeles Lakers trump James’ single title earned last June.
“Five beats one every time I look at it,” Jordan said. “And not that (James) won’t get five. He may get more than that, but five is bigger than one.”
The debate between Bryant and James is a heated one that both sides argue with great passion. Jordan, widely considered the greatest player of all time, said it would not be an easy decision. Clearly, he admires the talent of both perennial all-stars.
But Bryant’s body of work in 17 seasons – including an NBA record 16 straight All-Star game appearances – was the determining factor. James, in his 10th season, finally reached the basketball summit with the NBA Finals victory over Oklahoma City.
James recently set a record with six straight games of at least 30 points on 60 percent shooting. His team is playing better than any others in the league, and James has never performed better.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” James said on Thursday about Jordan’s comments. “If you take Kobe one and I go second, it doesn’t matter. I don’t get too involved in what guys say about me, or if you take Kobe or if you take LeBron. As long as I’m on the floor and I make plays for my teammates, I don’t do what I do for other people’s approval.”
Jordan, who turns 50 years old on Sunday, won six championships with the Chicago Bulls, six NBA Finals MVPs and five league MVPs.
