Who does Phil Jackson think is better, Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant?

Question

Really I don't care about what Phil thinks because he's just another man like I am. I've seen both play and Michael Jordan is alot better in the records (stats, honors, & accomplishments). But this question is to address the Kobe jockers. These guys like to TWIST Phils word and INGNORE (like they do with stats & honors) what he really meant. Here is two quotes by Phil on MJ & Kobe:


1. "I don't understand why the Lakers treat Kobe as their most valuable asset....................He (Kobe) COULD HAVE BEEN the heir apparent to Michael Jordan and maybe won as many championships. He may still win a championship or two, but the boyish hero image has been replaced by that of callous gun fire."

2. "In a chat about Kobe, Jackson said he has displayed a better "overall" game then any other player he has coached. That would include, um, Jordan...................
He CLARIFIED the comments, saying he never asked Jordan to be a play maker."

Now what do you guys get from this?

Anyways, the FACT that Phil had Kobe be 2nd option to Shaq tells me what he thinks about Kobe. If Phil thought that Kobe was the best player he ever had then Shaq would of been 2nd option.

504hood,
LAY OFF THE CRACK! Phil Jackson NEVER sais who was better. You guys need to stop twisting his word.

PHIL JACKSON IS JUST A MAN AND KOB E BRYANT SUCKS!

Answer 1

Michael Jordan no brainer.

Answer 2

I think the two players are NOT similar and thus should not be be compared to one another. Michael and Kobe's roles on their respected teams were different when Phil came to coach them.

I think Phil tries not to play the comparison game with the two gifted players, but he will probably lean more towards Michael in terms of a better player/team mate.

When Phil came to the Lakers, Shaq was the man and franchise player. The team was built around him, which is why he was the first option. At that time, Kobe was still developing and not ready to be lead on the team.

Answer 3

Michael Jordan

Answer 4

Because there's no opinion about this topic that would be more valued then somone who coached both players... No one is going to take your opinion over Phil Jacksons i think he knows a little more then the people on this Blog site... That was Kobe being respectfull to the game but Kobe is not better yet but when he gets to 6 rings it will be very debatable... Drizzle if you think you know more about basketball then Phil Jackson then your the Fool... i bet you get laughed at alot when you talk

Answer 5

I have read your number two (2) quote and the fact that Phil Jackson failed to mention Kobe as the greatest even the best (which he does when he was asked about Jordan "... best player I had....") would have you thinking what the hell is this man going to?

He said Kobe "has a better overall game" but then is hesistant to take Kobe to a higher pedestal because he knows that putting Jordan down is Bullsphemy!

Since Phil complicates things I'll just take what Bill Russell said about Michael Jordan (Kobe jockers just to differ Jordan from the claim uses Russell's ring to dethrown him):

"...he has this-it's like a computer in his head that he knows all of his multiple skills, which ones he uses, and when to use them, to win the game, because you see the thing is what makes him a GREAT player is his sense of priority, what is important."

"...enthusiasm and the will to win has been there all the time...with just as much dedication, and with just as much intensity. "

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/sports/jan-june98/jordan_6-15.html

Red Auerbach take on Jordan? "He was the greatest player who ever played the game"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/longterm/jordan/articles/nba14.htm

And to those who says Jordan is all hype here is what Red says:

Auerbach said Jordan's popularity was so immense because he also worked so hard at creating goodwill.

"He didn't win as many championships as Russell," Auerbach said. "Russell won 11 in 13 years, eight of them in a row. But no one went super-duper crazy when he retired. That's because he didn't have Michael's business sense. He wouldn't sign autographs, wasn't patient with people."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/longterm/jordan/articles/nba14.htm

Answer 6

u said it urself. "Kobe had the best overall game of any player he was ever coached." He has the most talent and potential of any player of all time, he just doesnt assess himself with his ego. why would u not care what phil thinks? are you saying phil jackson is equal to u? u gotta be on crack. ur a 13 year old kid while phil jackson is considered the best coach of all time alongside Red Auerbach. Phil's got 10 titles, 9 coaching, 1 as a player. He obviously knows a hell of alot more basketball than u. lol this kid here thinks his opinions and thoughts are equal to phil's. Phil Jackson is the only person on this planet that can say who is actually better.

Answer 7

No coach would say one of his player sucks, until he stops coaching. And in Kobe's case, it's true. Phil Jackson thought Kobe is a ballhog, selfish, and an immature whinny little *****.

People need to start reading stories and statistics in historical/situational context.

Answer 8

Michael Jordan is the best ever

Answer 9

he still thinks michael jordan is better... just like the rest of us

he wanted to boost kobes ego when he said he was better than any player he had ever coached

Answer 10

you, my friend, i agree with you. remember, when shaq left LA, jackson called kobe uncoachable. did he ever do that to michael jordan?no so yeah what jackson thinks now is wrong.