I have to say Michael Jordan. He played in the 80's, 90's, & some of the players now. Especilly some of the vets when they were at their best....and back when MJ was youger the big men were alot better then they are now.
Check out this list:
Shaq( Magic & Lakers )
Hakeem the Dream
Kareem
Magic
Bird
Ewing
Robinson
Malone
Barkley
Wilkins
Dr. J
Isiah Thomas
Kemp
Penny(with the Magic)
Hill ( with the Pistons)
Zo
Parish & McHale
Mutumbo( younger)
Reggie Miller
Payton
K.J.
Garnett
Duncan
Dirk
Yoa
Carter
T-Mac
Ray Allen
Iverson
Drexler
Webber
Stockton
Rodman
Mose Malone
Tim Hardaway
Glenn Rice
Larry Johnson
& etc.
MJ played in a era when the NBA players could actually win a gold medal, and back in MJ's era you can HAND CHECK. There also was a certain defense that was only applied to MJ. It was called The Jordan Rules. That defense allowed players to tackle, trip, grab, bridge, & slap MJ on his head. Back then teams did whatever they could
stop MJ!
2007-03-01 07:00:38 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Basketball
Plus MJ had to play against greater teams then Kobe did.
80's Lakers
80's Celtics
80's 76ers
80's Pistons
90's Trailblazers(Clyde)
90's Suns(Barkley & K.J.)
90's Knicks ( Ewing )
& etc.
2007-03-01 07:03:53 · update #1
Hey Chilly B,
thanks for accepting the facts, but MJ had a bunch of great individual defenders as well! Check out LGT's list, he's the 4th person below you!
2007-03-01 08:44:46 · update #2
Me and my brother were talking about this the other day when the NBA playoffs were competetive and rough. Jordan vs the BadBoys of Detroit! Man they would bang him up then.. Joe Dumars, Rodman, Thomas, and Lambeer.. that was a rough 7 games! The Knicks who had Starks, Mason, Oakley, Ewing! That was a riviarly that led to fist fights and sh!t. Their no doubt that Jordan had it rough boy. Kobe doen't have rivialry? Let's see.... The only one i can think of is when the Kings took them to 7 games when the kings had Webber, Bibby, Christie, Pejsa, and Adlemen as coach thats about it.
2007-03-01 07:17:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
agreed. however, I believe the hand-check regulation is the biggest key to the defense of MJ being better, not so much the competition as when MJ was in his prime, Kobe was still relatively new to the league, so they have both encountered the same stars. Also, the game has shifted to a big man game to a 1-2 game, where the guards dominate nowadays. In your list the only notable defenders for guards would be isiah and payton. whereas the guard defenders in kobe's era are more noteable in shane battier, bruce bowen, doug christie, tayshaun prince, and the list goes on.
Some of todays stars (mainly the penetration guards), like tony parker, AI, and wade would not be nearly as successful if players could hand check.
2007-03-01 07:12:04 · answer #2 · answered by Chilly B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Today, it's got to be MJ. You enumerated the resaons. But I think you have to repost this question again after 10 years or when Kobe's done playing. Nobody knows what improvement will happen to the current superstars (James, Wade, Anthony) plus the up and coming stars who is not yet in the NBA.
2007-03-01 07:10:01 · answer #3 · answered by zircon1973 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you just look at it stat-wise, Lebron completely dominates it, scoring points up there with Jordan, and the most assists, rebounds, and blocks. However, Kobe and Lebron both played against the laughingstock of the NBA, while Jordan played against a tough, elite defensive team, coming after retirement. Jordan had the best performance, taking all factors into mind.
2016-03-29 05:52:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The new rules in the NBA have made the competition a little easier for the new generation than for the older guys. So while I agree the Jordan had tougher competition in his own right Kobe has very tough competition.
2007-03-01 07:08:39 · answer #5 · answered by roni26 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There were some awesome defenders in Jordan's day:
Dennis Rodman
Joe Dumars
Michael Cooper
Gerald Wilkins ("Jordan Stopper")
Gary Payton
Hakeem Olajuwon (wouldn't win title till Jordan retired 1st time)
Cliff Robinson
Mookie Blaylock
The list doesn't stop there...
Plus, you add in the hand check factor. It was extremely difficult to score 50+ points. It was basically unheard of in Jordan's day by anyone besides Jordan. Plus, you have to factor in that Jordan averaged a 50% shooting percentage throughout his career. Look at today's shooters, and they pale in comparison. Jordan is the best, hands down.
2007-03-01 08:29:14 · answer #6 · answered by LGT 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nope, Kobe did.....he had to go against MJ.....and drop 55 on him
Boy those 80's Celtic teams were a defensive stoppers?90's Suns?..The trailblazers?...what are talking about?none of those teams played a lick of D.You don't know anything about basketball.
2007-03-01 07:05:32 · answer #7 · answered by Alpha Wolf(Bringer of Rain) 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nope
No Chance To Stop Legendery Person
I will say Noooooooooo For Alllllllllllll
After All There Is No Alternation For MJ
M J is the best among all.
2007-03-01 07:12:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have this conversation all the time with Kobe jockers and hands down Michael Jordan had the toughiest competition their is no defense in this era all the players want is to score and chill since they got a fatty paycheck
2007-03-01 07:21:06 · answer #9 · answered by DATRUTH 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋