I don't know Jeff if you're old enough to remember the early to mid 80's NBA, but it wasn't nearly as popular as it became in the late 80's and through the 90's. This isn't solely attributed to Michael Jordan, but much of it is. Kobe and Lebron are direct beneficiaries and de facto descendents of the Michael Jordan era.
Bryant's legacy may have eventually surpassed that of Jordan in terms of ambassadorship, we'll never know. Any maybe I am simply biased or uninformed. But I think Jordan's legacy to this day exceeds that of Kobe.
Agreed. That’s what I’m saying though, you can never outdo the first, it just provides an immeasurable weight. For me that just doesn’t do it though, I need more than the happenstance that you came first.
I guess for me a good example is Shaq/Dwight Howard. Here comes the next you, this kid. Looking for praise, direction, guidance, anything. And Shaq just shit on him at the time. It wasn’t Shaqs job to help him out, and he made damn sure Howard knew that. Given Howards history to that point, temperament, etc., I think that if that relationship had been wildly different, Howard’s career arc would’ve been too.
Maybe it is generational. Jordan’s a historical figure for me, something to be in awe of, something to watch speechless. Every Father’s Day he’s celebrated in this home with a new pair of matching Js for dad and son. He can make his millions now sitting back and basketball wise own and with with a team mired in mediocrity.
Kobe took a year or two to win however many awards, get the book out, get the camps up, whatever else. Before his passing, when the greats were on record, they admitted being intimidated by Jordan, being in awe of him while playing, and he was a bad dude. But Kobe? To a younger guy (me), it just always sounded like they had a different type of respect for him. His tenacity, his study of the game, his relentless pursuit of relationships and communications of those that came before him to get any little edge.
I’m glad we got to watch them both perform at something they were obviously meant to perform at. I’m just not naming any man of the year, lifetime achievements, etc. after Jordan. He can have the “player only” titles. (Finals mvp trophy and the like).
I dig and respect the opinions. Hope we watch a game together while playing cards one day.