Phil Jackson on Michael Jordan vs. Kobe Bryant 

I always wished it was a conversation between Phil, Micheal & Kobe! RIP Kobe

Even Jordan said only Kobe met his standards.

@3:20 Actually MJ is the only one player in nba history who's led the league in scoring in the regular season, playoffs and Finals while winning the championship (6 times). Shaq did it also once in 2000. Not Wilt Chamberlain, no Kareem Abdul Jabbar (even if he was closed), no Kobe Bryant...

I just realized Phil Jackson has as much rings as Bill Russell. lol

You do know MJ scored 35pts in a half in the NBA Finals and made 6 3pt shots that same game before half time. Then he sat most of the 2nd half since they had won the game. Also MJ 3pt fg% for entire career is .327 where Kobe is .336. That is basically 32% and 33% in 3pt fgs. MJ has so many other records like 2 years being the only player to record 200 steals & 100 blocks in the same season.

"I don't get 5 championships here without him" - Kobe's comment about Michael Jordan 🐐 in the Last Dance Documentary

Lifelong laker fan but this shouldn’t be a comparison. Jordan was the bus driver on all 6 of his championships. Kobe was a side kick for more then half of his

I wish they'd asked more about Kobe & MJ's work habits & what made them the hardest workers rather than asking the same tired questions everyone else asks. Everyone can learn from the work ethic that Kobe & MJ brought.

In another interview he gives the nod to MJ. Also, let's not forget that MJ won the defensive player of the year award, and I believe he did it the same year he won the scoring title.

Phil is so classy with his answers. He picked the guy with the most rings and that means, He is picking Jordan because he has more rings than Kobe.

Excellent insight, and interview letting the interviewee talk

i love how phil jackson waited to say all these things after coaching kobe lol

Kobe has come closest, but he wasn't MJ, he was Kobe. And that was enough. There will never be another Michael Jordan, he is in a class by himself

I can't believe Phil has 13 rings.

Exactly! People are so in love with their own past and/or present that they are blind to see that.

"Swear people hear what they want to hear." Absolutely. You are a prime example. Go watch several of Phil's interviews on the subject, it's very clear who he thinks the better player is.

"So who's better?" "Bill Russell. He has 11 rings." Cold ass line

Kobe is the only other player thats comparable with Jordan.

What im saying is in order to be the best; be the best all around

1:57 that's all we needed.

Rip Kobe

But jordan isnt a douche;he had sportsmanship; he is the best all around player

thank you somebody knows basketball

I will say kobe polished more what jordan had created/bring to next era nba skills IE jump shots, fedaway shots, fake and those signature. but thats really only shooting skills Jordan got the whole package, those leadership and winning mentality no one can matches him. Jordan say" they learn from us, we didnt learn from them."

Sure his eye for talent in regards to what best fits his team is probably lacking vs other talent scouts. However when it comes to comparing someone else to himself, he knows more than anyone.

Just accept that Michael Jordan is the greatest ever, and kobe is the closest living thing to Jordan, lebron as well. End of discussion.

KOBE IS ThE BEST. U GUYS FORGET KOBE's INSANE GAME WINNING CLUTCH 3s. HE DID A DOUBLE FADE AWAY 3 pt Game winner against portland. Look it up.

MJ was the best player ever to shoot the ball, dunk the ball, and pass the ball even though Kobe lived up to Jordan's standards Kobe can never live up to Jordan's legacy

Kobe has put that work in and nobody can take that from him, no matter peoples comments! Just like Mike to even be in that talk shows you KOBE IS NO BUM! Jordan in the hall and kobe will be next, THATS THATS!

Phil Jackson already mentioned Jordan being the physically/athletically superior player over Kobe which gives Jordan the edge head-to-head. But if he could only pick one shooting guard to play a game, he could just flip a coin to decide who to pick because they were just that good and Phil knows he could win with either player.

Kobe had a slighter longer range, but other than that, MJ wins in all other areas.

Who can belive it ?Kobe is like mike? Only a 12 years old kid anyone else

Amazing how Phil wouldn't say who was best...Quite telling about how good Kobe really was,,,

Listen@0:50-1:30 Even in this video Phil Jackson talks about what Jerry Krause (Bulls GM) said about what Ive be telling U about. I QUOTE from Phil Jackson "THERES NEVER BEEN A TEAM DRIVEN BY A TWO GUARD THATS WON A CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE NBA" MJ IS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME PERIOD!!! NO DOUBT ABOUT IT & TOLD FROM THE MAN WHO COACHED BOTH OF THEM!!!

That’s amazing Phil won’t pick between the two, you know what that means that’s how good Kobe was too .

Every championship team had one except for the Bulls (Jordan Era).This is what separates Jordan from the rest&even Kobe.

Why this video look like is was filmed in the 80s

Yes, "action." Your action was to laugh at me before I could potentially laugh at you, to call me biased before I could call you biased. What did I say that would make you think that I'm biased? What did I say that makes you think that I haven't watched basketball enough to critique these guys very well? What makes you think that you can critique and compare players better than I can? And how did I use the word obviously against myself?

Phil will answer the question when both are retired. He's as close to Kobe as he is with MJ.

AIRNESS IS 1A AND MAMBA IS 1B !💯🔥

Agreed 100%. Although I might give Kobe the better 3 pt shot cause he shoots a hell of alot more 3 pt shots than Jordan. Kobe has shown his longer range. But Jordan didnt need a 3 pt shot & when he shot it. It usually went in. No doubt Jordan got a way better shooting percentage&his mid range shot was always money. Jordan was also the best finisher in the game.

PHIL JACKSON IS BIAS. He got his credibility as a "HEAD COACH" because HE HAD A MICHAEL JORDAN in a team. MJ came first with the Bulls before Phil came just as an Assistant Coach of Head Coach Doug Collins. MJ is well known during his Rookie as a collegiate player and he got more fame when he stepped in to NBA- ROY award vs Hakeem and the other Center (2nd Pick 1st Round). Jordan came in to be known to be SUPERB COMPETITIVE IN MOVES AND MINDS by himself alone. KB#24 is DEFINITELY a Wow Amazing Player. But who did he idolized? Who was the player he asked for tips how to get have great shots/fade aways during a game where his team (LA) was on the Home Court of that player where he asked- while their teams was playing against each other. Phil Jackson sometimes also asked MJ if the play he was setting for the Bulls was good before executing. Phil is more of favor of Kobe due to Kobe wasn't yet FULL EXPERIENCED because Head Coach Phil went to LA in and KB is just on his 3rd yr experience as a Pro and still never had on Olympics game experience unlike MJ. So that's why Phil sees KB as his son because KB still don't know how to be more creatively competitive like MJ.

Kobe better shooter

Yall heard it. Jordan himself said Kobe is the only one worthy to be compared to him.

Jordan said the same thing when he was ask abt Kobe & lebron. He said Kobe bcuz he has more rings

It’s not a comparison.. Kobe is a poor mans jordan

The one you live in.

Jordan is the best of he didn't leave he would've had 8 rings

Bruh times were so good when “Kobe vs Mj” was THE debate! People forget about that cuz they’re so focused on using lebron on the comparison 😒. I’m not hating on lebron he’s definitely goat status but I feel like it’s an insult to Kobe when he was always looked at as second to Jordan. Not only that but they kept comparing lebron to Jordan before he even had 4 rings. THAT is definitely an insult to Kobe

MJ is born leader. Kobe didn’t reach that level. MJ’s rookie season stats is better than Kobe’s best year. Yes Kobe was closest thing to MJ but not that close in all honesty.

6'8

who's better?

Shaq NOT only was a dominated big man.He dominated both offensively&defensively.He probably is the most dominated Big Man in NBA history..lol.4sure was the most dominating Big Man in his era.Also the1st couple of yrs Gasol dominated&helped Kobe both Offensively&defensively.He even helped in Rebounds.Of course I know Gasol is a skilled player&thats how he helped Kobe with the scoring load.Same with Shaq.Both Shaq&Gasol got double teamed.Cant say the same with Pippen,Rodman,Grant&Kerr..LOL!!!

I think they were very similar but different in a few ways . But at the end of the day they both had the mentality, mission and purpose . And Nothing stood in the way of that.

Your use of the word "obviously" shows your bias. You're simply not allowed to make statements on this matter.

Phil basically saying Mj and Kobe are evenly matched but he takes bill cause of his 11 rings lmao that one was funny.

Well in my opinion, Jordan was better, simply because he changed the way people played. BUT, Kobe is a magnificent player, and has that quality to change a game within a couple of plays like MJ did. The main difference between the 2 is Jordan played in a more physical era compared to Kobe, and if you want to go on rings well Bill Russell pisses on both of em with 11. Kobe is deserving of people considering him to be the best ever though, you won't get many like him again,

In what universe does 'obviously' show bias?

@HardKore5250.. Well said

You see? This is what I'm talking about. Now your action is a form of projecting to cover your insecurity.

That's the same Jordan that drafted Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison.

Tom Steyer let it go bro😂 #RonPaul

jordan has 17 nba records while Kobe has only 4.

How can Kobe be a better shooter than Jordan when Jordan shot 50% career and Kobe never shot 50% in 20 years?

i'd love to ask the haters. they hate the man so much they'd say just about anything idiotic that pops off into their uninformed minds. is mj greater than kobe? yes. but that's not a bad thing. kobe can hold his own as a hall of famer and that's all that matters to him. he isn't playing the game for michael jordan, lebron james or whoever.

1. you obviously have never watched basketball and you dont know these two players, other than watching highlights...MJ had a better shot selection, better IQ, better at creating his shots for his teammates and raising their level of play, a better defender, a better rebounder, and simply raised his and his teams' performance to the highest level possible 2. A. "Kobe has the better shot..." B. "Michael... being able to get a better shot" is a contradictory statement no? 3. Idk what 'fan' u sayin

If you knew something about basketball you would hear that what he says equates to "more coachable" "easier to coach" "more acceptance of advice" PLUS go look at his other interviews about the book, he STATES Jordan was easier to work with. Oh yea READ THE TWO BOOKS!! Phil has written. Do people have to spell things out word for word for you to make you understand something? If not, you mind CAN'T progress pass 1+1 =2? The illogic minded trolls out there, just make up shit.

so we're talkin about the same kobe that had 12 threes in a game right??.... ok just checking

MJ was the complete package with a killer instinct that was unmatched. Kobe was great but not consistently ruthless like MJ. MJ`s journey to the top was one of evolving brilliance with his team.

Jordan has 17 nba records while Kobe has only 4. BTW, only 1 thing Kobe is better than Jordan, that is 3- point shot.

action? im just sayin, theres no action, and i've use the word 'obviously' to say that it holds true based on ur comment that u havent watched basketball enough to critique these players very well, i'm not saying u never watched basketball ur life. theres a difference there, in this case i've watched basketball thoroughly that im capable of critiquing and comparing players better than u. when i ask what universe does the word show bias, u simply used it against urself. c&p 'the one you live in'

@2:04 Not you Phil...MJ never said Kobe is the only one bla bla bla....one journalist (Lazenby) pretends that Jordan told him that AMONG ALL THE SO CALLED "NEXT MJ", Kobe is the only one who's had a good career enough to even be compared to his career. That's it. We don't even know if it's true.And he wasn't comparing Kobe career to other "Next MJ", period. People take it too far...

Bill Russell won 11 rings in 13 years as he was the main guy for an All Star team. Celtics were stacked with highest payroll like the Yankees have done for so long. Kobe also has had teams with the highest payroll & still got swept by the Mavericks just recently. Kobe also has played with more than 2 All Stars on his team, not including himself. The amount of talent Kobe has had on his team is just staggering. From Glen Rice coming off the bench to HOFs in Shaq, Payton, Malone.

Shit kills me reading these comments, did you guys even really listen to what the man Phil was saying in this interview?

You do realize that Lebron shoots 33.7% from 3 and Kobe shoots 33.6% from 3?

And that stat shows Kobe is only slightly better than MJ in 3pt shooting.

This the facts about kobe and Jordan kobe has a better ball handle then mj kobe is crazy enough to shoot at half court with three guys on him in the clutch and make it. AS too mike His mid range is the best next too larry bird. Jordan hands are a edge to his game to why i say hes one up on kobe. But kobe will to get better and push him self is no other. Jordan came too a team where they needed him too be great, as too kobe he had better statrs at that time on la in eddie jones and van exel shaq. So he push him self from taking air balls, too 5 rings and pasting Jordan on th all time scoring lists.

phil knows how much better and less selfish mj was....I think phil wishes he could coach the great lebron....he sees his amazing unselfish play style and defense....its not even about their style or stats...mj did more with less kobe did less with more...phil never got upset at mj he always hated kobes thick head and kobe quit a lot.....phil saw shaq carry his lakers for 5 years....gasol made la a contender....keeping bynum and odom and getting gasol makes no sense...they should have been forced to give away bynum or odom for gasol...not just kwame brown?...an all star for a scrub?...jerry west la biased at it again...phil saw mj lead the bulls for 10 years...mj=30 points a game highest in nba history...boom

Kobe is comparable to Jordan in their games.They R both scorers with similar moves.Fakeshot, hangtime, Fadeaway shot&footwork which Kobe copied from MJ.Both aggressive&look2shoot the ball.But Lebrons game is a Passer 1st&gets his team involve.I believe that he can score if he wants2.But his Bball IQ is above the rest&he knows he needs2get his teammates involved.Like Game7vs Indiana.He got Wade&Bosh going.Then took over@the end.Hes way better than Magic.Especially in scoring&shooting.

Where do U think Kobe got all his footwork moves on the block??? His Mid range shot&especially his fadeaway shot&pump fakes??? Kobe even admitted2copying Jordans moves..lol. If U actually look@both Jordan&Kobes fadeaway shot@the sametime.Its identically the same!!!

Michael Jordan! could still teach new school, N.B.A players at age 52 who else has done that? not kobe .....!

maimi won without a dominate big man

peja is the best

Right because Jordan knows and workouts with Kobe, and the other nba players don't work out, they just show up to play.

Also Jordan won 3 championships in a row.Then 3 more championships again. It would have been 6 in a row but Jordan took a break to play baseball. Also if Jordan didnt retire early he probably would have won 8 or 10 in a row..lol.

KG is a dominate Big Man..lol. So what RU talking about..lol??? Both offensively&defensively.Boston also had Perkins.He was dominate only on rebounding,defense&block shots.Pistons had Ben&he dominated on the boards,defense&block shots.Rasheed dominated both offensively&defensively&the Pistons&Celtics had many All-Star players that demanded the double team&could help with the scoring.

Did u know I know kobe is better I've seen them both I loved basketball since I first watched mj beat utah and space jam, I've watched Kobe every yet prob more intently, especially the way he hasn't lost anything as an older man in the nba, he had a diff role like magic playing in la much harder than Chi town. Kobe's the best but that's just me and I don't need to hear someone else's argument cuz if u know u know. And I know...

lmao, you told me lebron is a better scorer than mj? that is so wrong on so many level Lebron average 25 ppg in the finals against the spurs who left him open all series long. You think prime jordan would average 25 ppg? Go check jordan final average, when he was the same age as Lebron.

Theres no way you cold have grown up watching Jordan with a lame statement like that. Kobe frequently gets under 12 points a game. Jordan's worst 82 games were still better than 96 percent of the entire leagues histories career averages and rarely got under 20 points. I seen a stat recently where Kobe has ONLY MADE 25% of the game winning shots he took. Jordan made over 50%. Do yourself a favour and go to the Jordan - List of career achievements WIKI.

Of course Shaq was the best player of the Lakers and maybe the league because he was in his prime in 2000. Kobe was nowhere near his prime at that time at 21 years old. Yes Kobe under performed in his first finals against the Pacers but Shaq was just a different type of beast then. 2002 finals Kobe had his best performance but Shaq would be ring less without Kobe and Wade. He would have been the greatest player ever without a ring next to Karl Malone.

Against the Mavericks in 2011. Shaq would have no rings on his finger if it wasn't for legendary shooting guards on his team (Wade, Bryant) he went to the finals in 1995 and got dominated by Hakeem and the Magic were swept 4 straight games. I'm not even a Kobe fan like that but I give credit to where it is due. Lebron James will never be in Mike's atmosphere basketball wise. ESPN has hyped Lebron up just like they did Kobe but they fail to compare to the true king of the NBA (Jordan)

Yea but from the start of the conversation from ur1st comment U never said that U agreed with me that Jordan is better than Kobe.So I was assuming that U thought Kobe was better.So now ur actually changing ur mind..lol.Well its better late than never.NEways it dont matter dude cause Phil Jackson has coached both players&he would know who is better&he flat out said it wasMJ in his book&on the Tonight Show.So his word is the truth period! MJ had all6Finals MVP.Shaq got all3Finals MVP,but NOT Kobe!

Memcrew you do relalize kobe is a better 3 point shooter stat wise now nah but kobe makes 3s when he has to check out the raptors game from last season and kobe held the record and is tied now with someone else for most 3s in one game which is 12 lebron would never make 12 threes Consecutively im a game

Phil's fony. He comparing know be Jordan one on one instead of who better witch is Jordan

Dude I already answered who has the better mid range shot in my previous comment.Learn2read!!! MJ of course&I NEVER said Kobe didnt have a Mid range game.I CLEARLY SAID MJ HAS A BETTER ONE! Also NO ONE IS STRAYING AWAY FROM THE TOPIC CAUSE I ALREADY ANSWERED IT..LOL! THE VIDEO IS TITLED WHO IS BETTER BETWEEN MJ VS KOBE.THEN IM STATING MY REASON WHY&ITS CLEAR THAT MY REASON IS CORRECT CAUSE EVEN KENNY SAID THE SAMETHING! KOBE PLAYED WITH SHAQ&GASOL. 2 DOMINATED BIGMEN! MJ DIDNT! ENOUGH SAID=)

The main reason why Jordan is the GOAT&better than Kobe.If U watch "Inside the NBA".Former NBA player&commentator Kenny Smith has mentioned it.Jordan was on the only championship team that had no other player that was double teamed besides MJ.Pippen was never double teamed cause he was more of a Defensive player.That meant MJ had2do all the scoring not only the regular season&playoffs but his whole career&he also guarded people.MJ never had aDominate Big man2help himout.

Lebron lead the Cavs to the finals in the weakest era of the eastern conference against a Pistons team who lost their head coach (Brown) and their best defensive player (Wallace) Lebron did play amazing in that series but he got to the finals and played like shit. His shooting % was under 45% and his team got destroyed in the finals. Jordan played phenomenal in every single finals series he played in including his first 1 against a Lakers team that was top 5 defensive teams in 1991

Lebron Stepped up in the last game of the finals but what about the first 3 games of the finals where he played like shit? Wade was the main reason the Heat didn't get put out the first 5 games of the finals. He was overlooked by the media because of Lebron playing like trash until Game 4 where he started to score in garbage time when the game was decided. Lebron's stats shows he disappears in the 4th quarter. The media over hypes him better than Jordan when numbers show he doesn't compare

Michael is better in some ways, kobe is better than him in other aspects, and lebron is better in a few areas

Kobe is a better longball shooter/chucker than Jordan. That's all, and not by much. Jordan has better, more refined skills, technique, and basketball IQ. Physically stronger and quicker as well. Kobe's is basically MJ lite.