Sports Blogs Discuss Kobe Bryant's Big Game

Posted on January 27, 2006

Kobe Bryant scored 81 points the other night against Toronto. This was huge news in the sports world and it has led to some comparisons of Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan. But basketball star Scottie Pippen has a blog at and he posted that the two players cannot be compared.

Kobe Bryant's 81-point performance the other night against Toronto was certainly incredible, but it is unfair to try and compare what Kobe did to what Michael Jordan did in his playing career or what he could have done for that matter.
In the era when Michael played, it was a physical game. Defense was promoted. Guys took pride in it. Today defense is no longer a part of the game. Guys are driving to the basket. There are rules where you can't step in front of them. To me, it is taking away from the game seeing a guy like Tony Parker taking advantage of the rules. He is shooting 55 percent from the field. That says something about the game itself. In the history of the NBA, I'm sure a point guard has never led the league in field goal percentage. It's a different game now. It's really not about being tough and physical because the NBA isn't a physical game anymore. When you talk about how the Knicks and Bulls used to battle in the early '90s, the Oakleys, and Pat Ewings, the Masons, and how they would have the ability to use their hands to put you in a trap position. There is no way you can even triple team a guy now and stop him. Any contact is a foul. I can't compare the two players because I see it as two different games. If I'm guarding Kobe Bryant in today's game, I couldn't be the defender I was known as.

For sports fans it is pretty cool to be able to read the opinions of a great player that also played for years alongside Micheal Jordan. Jordan scored his points, many on assists from Pippen himself, against incredible defensive teams like the Detroit Pistons.