I might slightly disagree here. The article mentions people looking back years down the road. I do think there's some merit to the argument from that perspective.

 

It doesn't matter to people like me because I saw both guys for their entire careers. But, for somebody 50 years later that saw neither, the numbers are all they have. Who knows how they'll choose to spin the numbers?

 

 

That's how I took the reference.

Obviously he's got a lot of tread on the tires, but that aside, if he can stay otherwise healthy, I think he'll break it.

 

If he maintains his current scoring average, he'll score around 1200 more points this season, putting him at 29,801. That would put him at #6 on the list and 8586 points behind Kareem.

 

Do you mean #4? I thought he moved into 5th last night?

I'm with you, and I agree completely.

 

 

 

 

 

You may be right, but I'd hope that someone pointed out how many more seasons/games Kobe played to get past Jordan.

 

They may also use the Jerry Rice Law and say he was better because he could play longer.

I don't know if I believe he will or not. I'd say he definitely wants to.

I don't think it's impossible but I do think it's unlikely. Tons of miles from all of those post seasons.

I see no way that the general NBA following crowd will ever think Kobe is even MJ's equal let alone better. He may end up being thought of as the 2nd best to ever play, which I think is unlikely, but I don't see what he could do to pass Jordan. I don't care if he gets to 10 titles. MJ won 6 titles (should/would have been 8) without a dominant post player. Who else has won multiple without one? Jordan has 10 scoring titles, a handful of MVPs, and once he got it figured out never was taken out in the playoffs (I'm not counting the Wizards years, no one should). Kobe should and will be mentioned with the other mega-greats of the game and will be ranked somewhere from 2nd-10th according to who ever is doing the rankings.

I see no way that the general NBA following crowd will ever think Kobe is even MJ's equal let alone better. He may end up being thought of as the 2nd best to ever play, which I think is unlikely, but I don't see what he could do to pass Jordan. I don't care if he gets to 10 titles. MJ won 6 titles (should/would have been 8) without a dominant post player. Who else has won multiple without one? Jordan has 10 scoring titles, a handful of MVPs, and once he got it figured out never was taken out in the playoffs (I'm not counting the Wizards years, no one should). Kobe should and will be mentioned with the other mega-greats of the game and will be ranked somewhere from 2nd-10th according to who ever is doing the rankings.

 

If Kobe passes MJ scoring wise it is highly likely that in 200 years he may be regarded as having a better career than MJ and and may be regarded as the better player. If MJ is regarded by us as the GOAT with his 6 titles and scoring prowess instead of Bill Russell(11 titles including 1 as the coach and player and how many in a row.....) then it is definitely conceivable that the general NBA crowd at that time 200 years from now may regard Kobe as better than MJ.

Do you mean #4? I thought he moved into 5th last night?

5wide is looking at the overall list that includes ABA points. Moses Malone and Julius Erving are higher (between Kobe and Wilt) on that list. Kobe hasn't passed them yet but I think he'll get Moses this year and come very close to getting The Doctor too.

They may also use the Jerry Rice Law and say he was better because he could play longer.

 

Which doesn't quite work for this since Jordan took that time off for baseball and was busy leading the Looney Toon squad as well.

 

Also the three seasons that he took off between the 98 seasons and when he started with the Wizards in 2001. So, I don't really think you could say that Kobe could play longer.

Which doesn't quite work for this since Jordan got secretly suspended for gambling and was busy leading the Looney Toon squad as well.

Fixed it.

(I'm not counting the Wizards years, no one should).

 

I really don't pay attention to them, but the scary thing is...

 

1st year with the Wizards: 60 games, 22.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.2 APG (He was 38 years old and had taken 3 full seasons off)

 

2nd year with the Wizards: 82 games, 20 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 3.8 APG (He was 39 years old).

Fixed it.

 

it is definitely a good/interesting conspiracy theory. One that I have mixed feelings about haha!

Which doesn't quite work for this since Jordan took that time off for baseball and was busy leading the Looney Toon squad as well.

 

Also the three seasons that he took off between the 98 seasons and when he started with the Wizards in 2001. So, I don't really think you could say that Kobe could play longer.

In all seriousness, I think him taking off for baseball is a negative argument for MJ. For whatever reason part of his makeup made him give up those seasons. LeBron gets punished for not doing everything we think he should in order to maximize his greatness, shouldn't MJ as well?

In all seriousness, I think him taking off for baseball is a negative argument for MJ. For whatever reason part of his makeup made him give up those seasons. LeBron gets punished for not doing everything we think he should in order to maximize his greatness, shouldn't MJ as well?

 

Fair. Either way, MJ still accomplished everything that he did playing in less seasons than Kobe will (and that's if he even passes MJ's accomplishments).

Fixed it.

 

:clap::clap: I've always thought this was the real reason but that's for another thread.