Kobe is not MJ

Let's stop all of these comparisons.  It is not doing anyone any good and those who dare to make the leap (yes I said leap) to put Kobe at Jordan's level is nothing short of asinine.

I'm not trying to make the case that Kobe isn't a great player.  He is a great and very dominent player in the NBA.  He is not however Jordan.

Check out some of the career stats for both Kobe and Jordan

Kobe Career
Points/Game - 28.3
FG% - .453
Minutes - 36.5
FT% - .839
3 Point % - .34
Rebounds/Game - 5.3
Assists/Game - 4.6
Steals/Game - 1.5
Free Throws/Game - 7.7

Jordan Career
Points/Game - 30.1
FG% - .497  (almost 50% for a career and he eclipsed 50% for 4 straight years)
Minutes - 38.3
FT% - .835
3 Point % - .327
Rebounds/Game - 6.2
Assists/Game - 5.3
Steals/Game - 2.35
Free Throws/Game - 8.2

Even if I could look past the statistical matchup between the two players where Jordan is better in all but 3 point percentage, there are still many intangibles that Jordan has that Kobe does not.

Jordan won more championships with arguably a worse supporting case.  Sure he had Pippen but for most of his career, he was winning without a center.  Remember Luc Longley?  Yea, he won 3 with that Timberwolves castoff.  Kobe has been successful in his time in the NBA but his lone championship was with one of the most dominating center of all time in Shaq.  There certainly is an argument that Kobe could still win many more championships and that could happen.  However, once that happens then maybe we can start the comparisons. 

Another intangible that favors Jordan is international appeal.  At Jordan's peak, he was the most recognized athlete on the planet.  Think of Tiger Woods but bigger.  He was on every cereal box, in every commercial and everyone's favorite player. 

We do not know what will become of Kobe.  He is a great player with Hall of Fame numbers but the comparisons to Jordan need to stop.  It is very apparent that the NBA is down in popularity however, to try to create a comparison for something that is a stretch does not help the game.  It only makes people look silly.