Kobe confirms he is not at Jordans level with a tweet.

[shitsho]

I'm sure Monto got very excited when he saw these quotes from Phil!

There is no argument that Kobe is better than MJ. That doesn't mean Kobe was a bad player. Phil tweeted that he got to coach two of the greatest guards ever.

I saw the quotes the other day and they pretty much confirmed what I thought and had heard from other players. Kobes response is what made me laugh and post this.

 

[Kold]

Funny how Phil compared Kobe's younger years to MJ's overall career. It comes off to me like if he compared overall, he can't really give scathing quotes about how dramatically better MJ was then Kobe....but this is nothing new, I respect Phil to the HIGHEST degree, but I can't respect the fact that when he has to sell books, his go to move is to slam Kobe. Can't blame him though, because everyone eats that up. FTR, I think MJ is better(although the situations are totally different)

 

[shitsho]

I'm not sure a young MJ would have "inspired" Shaq (whatever the heck that means on a basketball level). Young MJ wasn't exactly known as a team player. The issues between Shaq and Kobe were more off court than on. On the court they dominated.

How were the issues more off court? The big problem was Kobe shooting too much instead of passing the ball. It wasnt until Kobe got busted with the girl in Colorado and threw Shaq under the bus to the cops that it got personal and moved to off the court.

 

[lakersrule]

Motivation is internal. Inspiration is external. I'm pretty sure Jordan would have been able to inspire Shaq to be better. You seem to be pretty sure that Shaq would have responded the same to Jordan as Kobe. Whats your reasoning? Kobe has grown somewhat as a leader. Unfortunately he has a stigma attached to him of being difficult to play with. Have you ever wondered why no one really wants to play with him and why several ex-teammates have come out and said negative things about him?

Shaq was the most dominant player in the league when he played with Kobe. How much better could MJ "inspire" him to be? Would MJ have been able to "inspire" Shaq to stay in shape during the off season or improve his free throw shooting? I think MJ would have been just as frustrated with Shaq's work ethic as Kobe was.

No one wants to play with Kobe? That's a big stretch of a statement. Provide these quotes from several ex-teammates. I'm not putting much into sentiments from such ex-teammates as Chucky Atkins and Smush Parker.

 

[lakersrule]

How were the issues more off court? The big problem was Kobe shooting too much instead of passing the ball. It wasnt until Kobe got busted with the girl in Colorado and threw Shaq under the bus to the cops that it got personal and moved to off the court.

The biggest issue Kobe had with Shaq was his off-season work ethic.

 

[Kold]

and also, the issues with Kobe and Shaq started when Shaq berated Kobe in his rookie yr. Kobe didn't oblige to the rookie hazing and that started the "feud"

 

[Kold]

Phil Jackson compares Jordan and Kobe (2008) - YouTube - This sounds like a comparison Phil made when not trying to sell books.

Like I said, MJ was better overall(again in different situation), but just saying breaking it down without taking subtle jabs is not really a book seller.

 

[shitsho]

The biggest issue Kobe had with Shaq was his off-season work ethic.

since Kobe was the second option his view point really doesnt count. Either way his conditioning is an on court issue not a personal one which would be off court. Shaq issue was with Kobe shooting too much.

 

[shitsho]

Phil Jackson compares Jordan and Kobe (2008) - YouTube - THIS sounds like a comparison Phil made when not trying to sell books

I didnt even look at the video only the year. Did you happen to notice thats when he was still coaching Kobe? Both books Phil has shown his personal and professional preference for Jordan when he was not coaching either player.

 

[shitsho]

and also, the issues with Kobe and Shaq started when Shaq berated Kobe in his rookie yr. Kobe didn't oblige to the rookie hazing and that started the "feud"

That would be a result of Shaq responding to Kobes aloof demeanor in a negative way. My question is what makes Kobe any different than any other rookie? Jordan went through rookie hazing as well.

 

[trojanfan12]

The biggest issue Kobe had with Shaq was his off-season work ethic.

Exactly!! Shaq was notorious for doing next to nothing in the off-season to prepare for the upcoming season as he preferred to "play himself into shape".

Shaq also refused to deal with injuries in the off-season and would wait until training camp to have any surgeries or other treatments stating: "I got hurt on company time. I'm gonna heal on company time"!!

Compare that with Kobe who typically takes a couple of weeks off and then spends the rest of the off-season getting any necessary treatment and working on his game and it gives a pretty clear indication as to why Kobe had issues with Shaq!!

Additionally, Shaq leaving ultimately had more to do with Shaq than Kobe. The final straw for the Lakers was when Shaq threw down a dunk during a pre-season game and then screamed at Dr. Buss: "You gonna pay me now?" The media all wanted to blame Kobe, but the ultimate decision to get rid of Shaq came from Dr. Buss. Dr. Buss stated this many times over the years, but it just wasn't "sexy" enough for the media!!

 

[shitsho]

Compare that with Kobe who typically takes a couple of weeks off and then spends the rest of the off-season getting any necessary treatment and working on his game and it gives a pretty clear indication as to why Kobe had issues with Shaq!!

Again you guys seemed confused. Kobe was not a leader so it did not matter what he thought Shaq should or should not do. He didn't have the influence necessary to convince Shaq to see it his way. He was the second option and not in a position to command anything of Shaq. Its a glaring example of his lack of a likeable personality and leadership skills.

 

[lakersrule]

since Kobe was the second option his view point really doesnt count. Either way his conditioning is an on court issue not a personal one which would be off court. Shaq issue was with Kobe shooting too much.

Because he was the second best player on the team, his viewpoint does not count? Ridiculous. You can't solely look at this relationship from one side.

 

[Kold]

I didnt even look at the video only the year. Did you happen to notice thats when he was still coaching Kobe? Both books Phil has shown his personal and professional preference for Jordan when he was not coaching either player.

and in both books, the big seller was the quotes about Kobe....also, I'll agree to disagree that the even comparison(he leaned toward Jordan ftr but gave Kobe a fairer due) was because he was coaching him. It's fair to assume that, but I think he gave a just comparison with no jabs because there were no books to be sold at the time.

 

[Triplexxx23]

and also, the issues with Kobe and Shaq started when Shaq berated Kobe in his rookie yr. Kobe didn't oblige to the rookie hazing and that started the "feud"

No it started when kobe open his mouth and snitched on Shaq. That he should had done what Shaq did and pay off the women to keep them quiet. That's was some fucked up shit. You never do that to one of your boys. That's when kobe lost his man card.

 

[shitsho]

Because he was the second best player on the team, his viewpoint does not count? Ridiculous. You can't solely look at this relationship from one side.

I would disagree. Shaqs actions proved Kobes viewpoint did not count. If Kobe wanted to influence Shaq he needed to have Shaq ear. Since Shaq was the #1 option Kobe being difficult to deal with personally created an atmosphere where Shaq probably resisted any effort to even appear to conform with what Kobe wanted. In other words Kobe was trying to influence the number #1 option who basically proved Kobes viewpoint meant diddly to him.

 

[Kold]

Also IF Jordan played with 2000 Shaq, they would've been 1A and 1B....but then again to make the compaison fair, Jordan would've had to come out of high school without the structure of a Dean Smith. Then again there's just way too much that has to happen to make that comparison so I won't go there.

 

[shitsho]

and in both books, the big seller was the quotes about Kobe....also, I'll agree to disagree that the even comparison(he leaned toward Jordan ftr but gave Kobe a fairer due) was because he was coaching him. It's fair to assume that, but I think he gave a just comparison with no jabs because there were no books to be sold at the time.

I concede you may have a point about selling books. I pose this question however. How many books would be sold if he sided with Kobe?

 

[Kold]

That would be a result of Shaq responding to Kobes aloof demeanor in a negative way. My question is what makes Kobe any different than any other rookie? Jordan went through rookie hazing as well.

Well everyone doesn't respond the same way to being called out of their name.

No it started when kobe open his mouth and snitched on Shaq. That he should had done what Shaq did and pay off the women to keep them quiet. That's was some fucked up shit. You never do that to one of your boys. That's when kobe lost his man card.

No, it started in Kobe's rookie year. This is well documented. Also, I'm not defending Kobe for doing what he did to Shaq, that wasn't cool.....but then again, I can't defend some of the things Shaq said about Kobe.

 

[shitsho]

Also IF Jordan played with 2000 Shaq, they would've been 1A and 1B....but then again to make the compaison fair, Jordan would've had to come out of high school without the structure of a Dean Smith. Then again there's just way too much that has to happen to make that comparison so I won't go there.

All this falls back on personality. Kobe's was aloof and therefore different from Shaqs. Jordans was outgoing and therefore similar to Shaqs. People at a gut level like what is similar and dislike what is different. I dont think it matters when Jordan came out or if it was straight from high school. I think they would have had a better relationship than the one Kobe and Shaq had.