Fair enough, but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.
James has a long way to go in cementing his already brilliant legacy, and oh by the way, Kobe Bryant is still pretty good. The five rings and countless clutch performances have set Bryant apart, as has his remarkable knack for scoring from anywhere.
But while Kobe's greatness remains obscenely rare, it's not unprecedented.
In fact, his similarities to Jordan are uncanny. Even if James ultimately comes closest to Jordan's record of accomplishment when all is said and done, there's little question that Bryant is the true heir to his style and on-court excellence.
The videotape doesn't lie in this instance.
Perhaps the most striking similarity between the two scorers is their shared preference for the same spots on the floor. Both lights-out mid-range shooters, Jordan and Bryant love rising above their defenders for jumpers from the high and low post alike, and they do a heck of a lot of damage from the top of the key.
To get those shots off against even the stiffest defenders, these two utilize a dizzying array of spin-moves, fall-aways, pump-fakes and clever footwork.
With their backs to the basket, there's a relentless use of faking a turnaround in one direction before spinning the other way. When facing up, the ability to stop on a dime and pull up for a jumper keeps defenders perpetually off balance.
They also create a sliver of space with that signature leg-kick.
It goes without saying there is a lot of jump in those jump shots.
Neither Jordan nor Bryant was small for their position. In fact, their 6'6" stature is the prototypical size for a shooting guard. Nevertheless, opposing teams have assigned their bes...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
