Jerry West vs. Kobe Bryant

[Prop]

Of course Kobe has been described as Michael Jordan with superior skills, athleticism, and competitiveness so take those with a grain of salt Prop.

well, i think it was writerman or truelafan or one of those guys. and i believe them.

[SDChargers#1]

West was more clutch, better shooter, better defensively, and tougher. Got to go with him.

Kobe is just as clutch. Kobe is without a doubt better defensively (I'm sorry, but West wouldn't stand a chance at defense in todays league). Kobe is without a doubt tougher.

Shooting is up in the air. West is more accurate, but Kobe is MUCH better when it comes to degree of difficulty.

Honestly, the comparison is REALLY close. But if Kobe wins a title this year it is Kobe HANDS DOWN, and if anyone argues that point, then they are just living in the past.

[kooldude]

Of course Kobe has been described as Michael Jordan with superior skills, athleticism, and competitiveness so take those with a grain of salt Prop.

the skills and competitiveness part I can at least consider but no way is Kobe more athletic than Jordan.

[shawngoat23]

-= original quote snipped =-



Kobe is just as clutch. Kobe is without a doubt better defensively (I'm sorry, but West wouldn't stand a chance at defense in todays league). Kobe is without a doubt tougher.

He may be just as clutch, but I would still rather have West with the ball on my team in the waning moments of the game. He isn't called Mr. Clutch for nothing.

Kobe is without a doubt not as good defensively as West. Jerry West is one of a handful of the best perimeter defenders to ever play the game, whereas Kobe is one of the better perimeter defenders to play the game today.

And as for toughness, I assume you are not aware of what West went through:

The Logo had a rough season in 1967-68. He was kneed in the thigh. He got hit in the face with a karate chop (yes, a karate chop). He broke his left hand. He bruised his hip. His nose was broken twice. He also pulled a groin muscle. During his Game 4 tour de force, West collided with John Havlicek and sprained his ankle. While it didn't affect his shooting eye -- he scored 35 points in Game 5 -- it affected his mobility and defense, and the Celtics eked out a 120-117 overtime victory.

Yes, Kobe did play through his finger injury, but West was a freaking warrior. Even if you want to marginalize those injuries (and without the benefit of modern technology), there is no way you can say that Kobe was without a doubt tougher.

Edit: I will say that if you teleport West to today's game, he would not be as great a defender as Kobe because perimeter defense has no doubt improved since the 1960s, when it was hardly emphasized. But West was a legendary defender among his peers, and he would have all the tools to transition into the game today as a defensive stopper.