As fans of Lakers or Kobe Bryant, these days are really exciting. With 5 final rings and a series of individual awards, Kobe Bryant is widely expected to surpass Michael Jordan, the god of basketball, as the greatest NBA player. Of cause, this bold guess should be based on the fact that He will lead Lakers to a triple peak. This seems a little logic as the coming seasons will be full of fierce competition as the Heat and Celts has been further strengthened.

Though Kobe Bryant is my favorite player among current NBA players and Lakers, my favorite NBA team, i do not think Kobe Bryant can surpass Michael Jordan as the No.1 in NBA history. The reasons are concluded as follows. First, whether somebody can be called a great player should not be based on the final rings merely. It is true that with another final ring Kobe will catch Michael Jordan in terms of the amount of final rings, but there is really something between Kobe’s six rings and that of Michael Jordan. As a matter of fact, in the first two of Kobe Bryant’s five rings, Shaq was definitely the key player while Kobe was no better than a supporter. In the contrary, Michael Jordan has always been the leader in the way for his 6 final rings. Second, to some degree, some of Michael Jordan’s record has still yet been revised; just look at this individual awards: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2009
2 Olympic Gold Medals – 1984, 1992
6-time NBA Champion
6-time NBA Finals MVP
5-time NBA MVP
7-time The Sporting News MVP
10 NBA Scoring Titles
3-time steals leader
3-time minutes leader
14 NBA All-Star Selections
3-time NBA All-Star Game MVP
11 All-NBA Selections
9 All-Defensive First Team Selections
2-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion – 1987, 1988
NBA Rookie of the Year – 1984–85
NBA Defensive Player of the Year – 1987–88
ACC freshman of the Year – 1981–82
2-time Consensus NCAA All-American First Team – 1982–83, 1983–84
ACC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year – 1983–84
USBWA College Player of the Year – 1983–84
Naismith College Player of the Year – 1983–84
John R. Wooden Award – 1983–84
Adolph Rupp Trophy – 1983–84
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year – 1991
Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996
Ranked 1 by SLAM Magazine’s Top 50 Players of All-Time
Ranked 1 by ESPN Sportscentury’s Top 100 Athletes of the 20th century
Will you think Kobe Bryant will make these all? Personally, I do not think so. In addition to the encouraging individual achievements in basketball field, Michael Jordan was a really successful businessman, maybe one of the most representatives that shifted from a hero in the game to elite in business. Along with the rise of Michael Jordan in the court, Air Jordan has become the most popular sneakers. Even after his long time retirement from the game, Air Jordan shows no design of decline. Up to this day, it is impossible for sneakerheads not to know them. There is no exaggeration that all Jordans from Air Jordan 1…Air Jordan V to Air Jordan Retro have been a must for sneaker collections. Third, Michael Jordan has a greater social influence. Ever since his presence at NBA game, Michael Jordan has been the model of millions of youth and up to this day, Michael Jordan’s influence among kids and youth, Michael Jordan still keep encouraging them with his unique interpretation for the game and his love and passion for the game. And it seems Kobe is just around the other way. Though Kobe’s negative influence caused by rape scandal is overcome gradually thanks to his individual achievements and participation in charity. The chance will be rather slim for Kobe surpasses Michael Jordan in terms of social influence. Fourth, with the strong emergence of heat and Celtics, the coming season will be a tough job for Lakers and Kobe.
From what I have said, I bet you will have no difficulty to arriving at the conclusion that Kobe’s chance of replacing Michael Jordan as the greatest NBA player is rather slim. Besides, he is too far behind to catch up with Michael Jordan considering Air Jordan, the greatest sneaker brand. I think the fact Air Jordan is often than not called Michael Jordan shoes will convinces you that Michael Jordan will never be replaced by Kobe even Kobe leads Lakers to the six final Champions.