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.

 

:thumb:

 

Yes, my mistake.

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

 

Not the same. Rice was considered the greatest before he played an extra handful of seasons.

Here's an example of why a closer look is important, rather than just the raw numbers...

 

Take this NFL RB. In nine seasons, he finished with 15,034 yards on 2881 carries and scored 131 TD's, never failing to rush for 1000 yards in a season. If you add his receiving stats, he finished his career with over 18000 total yards and 154 TD's. Where would you rate him as an all-timer?

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.

In 200 years they'll feel exactly the same way. They'll be able to watch the games same as we are now. Its not like having to compare Babe Ruth to Albert Pujols where all we can really do is look at the numbers. Do you think somewhere between now and 2212 they'll lose the game film? By then will either player even be relevant in the all-time best player discussion? Historically speaking they'll probably go on legend, so they'll most likely place Jordan further ahead of Kobe than we currently do now.

To me, the fact that I/we debate whether Kobe or Magic is better answers the Kobe vs. Jordan debate by default.

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.

 

 

200 years from now people will note MJ sat out for a year and a half and that he played for the Wizards as well. All they will see is stats.

How about we wait until Kobe is done and revisit this. He could win 5 more titles. Then what would you say?

How about we wait until Kobe is done and revisit this. He could win 5 more titles. Then what would you say?

Good point.

 

So, back to the original part. Does he retire as the NBA's all-time leading scorer?

Not the same. Rice was considered the greatest before he played an extra handful of seasons.

 

 

And he also played so long that his records will never be broken. In 200 years it is all just stats.

200 years from now people will note MJ sat out for a year and a half and that he played for the Wizards as well. All they will see is stats.

 

And his stats are bad for a 38-39 year old?

 

I think they will also see that MJ played 15 seasons, while Kobe played 20+ (maybe).

How about we wait until Kobe is done and revisit this. He could win 5 more titles. Then what would you say?

 

Better hope he gets Dwight Howard and a solid PG or it ain't happening.

Better hope he gets Dwight Howard and a solid PG or it ain't happening.

 

Maybe but to debate his legacy when he still have 5 years left is kind of silly. A lot of unknowns. He could get hurt tomorrow and never play again and there would be no argument.

 

Good point.

 

So, back to the original part. Does he retire as the NBA's all-time leading scorer?

 

Yes.

Maybe but to debate his legacy when he still have 5 years left is kind of silly. A lot of unknowns. He could get hurt tomorrow and never play again and there would be no argument.

 

Very true. I think it was FKYW who posed the "what if" question about Kobe winning another ring and I totally threadjacked this. I just love talking MJ. My apologies haha!

Very true. I think it was FKYW who posed the "what if" question about Kobe winning another ring and I totally threadjacked this. I just love talking MJ. My apologies haha!

 

Don't get me wrong I like the debate but at this point there isn't anything anyone can say to change someones mind.

In 200 years they'll feel exactly the same way. They'll be able to watch the games same as we are now. Its not like having to compare Babe Ruth to Albert Pujols where all we can really do is look at the numbers. Do you think somewhere between now and 2212 they'll lose the game film? By then will either player even be relevant in the all-time best player discussion? Historically speaking they'll probably go on legend, so they'll most likely place Jordan further ahead of Kobe than we currently do now.

 

 

Yeah, the experts and diehards maybe. The average NBA fan isn't going to go back and watch MJ and Kobe's careers to form an opinion. They'll be too caught up in their NBA. And I am not saying that they are all going to say that Kobe is better than MJ. I am simply saying it is conceivable that in 200 years some people will see Kobe as better than MJ if he finishes with more points than MJ. I can't find fault in that statement and that belief is what was referenced in the article. I think you are missing that important point of my comments. There are people who believe Kobe is better than MJ now. Are you saying that if Kobe passes MJ in points that in 200 years people won't say Kobe is better than MJ because of that stat?