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Comparing Michael Jordan’s Elegance to ‘Reckless’ Kobe Bryant’s Ruthlessness, 50YO Veteran Dissects NBA Legends’ Undeniable Prowess

Published 08/10/2023, 4:10 PM EDT

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Two of the greatest players of all time, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, have cemented their place as NBA legends. However, these two players are always compared to each other. Their dynamic playing style and shot-making abilities have always been the base of the debate.

In the book, ‘There Is No Next, by Sam Smith, a 50-year-old NBA veteran dissects both of the players’ playing styles. The player makes a verdict by saying Jordan was more elegant while playing and made it look easy in the eyes of the viewers, whereas Kobe was ‘reckless’. However, he rates both the players’ playing styles as undeniably good.

Grant Hill’s comparison: Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan’s playing styles

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In the book There Is No Next, Grant Hill reflected on an incident of him weighing between Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. The retired NBA veteran highlighted a nuanced distinction between the playing styles of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

Hill noticed that Kobe attempted and successfully made more challenging shots, often with a higher degree of difficulty, while both players were exceptional. “I felt Kobe would take and even hit a lot more tougher shots. And sometimes it was [a] degree of difficulty.”

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A producer tweeted about Kobe hitting tougher shots than Jordan, later misinterpreting the context of the conversation. Hill clarified that he intended to emphasize that Jordan had a remarkable ability to execute his desired shots within the flow of the offense.

“What I was saying, or what I was trying to say, is that Jordan got what he wanted. He got to the spot. He got the shot. I felt that Kobe sometimes would break the offense and say, ‘I’m going to hit some crazy shot,'” he clarified.

Hill lauded Jordan’s elegance, gracefulness, and understanding of the game’s context, comparing it to Kobe’s approach, which sometimes involved breaking the offensive rhythm to attempt difficult shots. Hill also recognized Jordan’s evolution in embracing team strategy, especially in his later years.

Tracy McGrady on Kobe vs. Jordan

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On the other hand, Tracy McGrady, who played with both Kobe & Michael, had some different views. He said Bryant was the most talented athlete he had ever seen. McGrady is convinced that the Lakers legend is the best for one-on-one play.

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He also stated that Kobe imbibed skills from Jordan and enhanced them by making them more effective. With his ruthless mentality, the ‘Black Mamba’ was a force to be reckoned with in his era.

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Written by:

Amey Dhume

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Amey is an NBA content writer at EssentialySports. As an NBA enthusiast, Amey closely follows the league and stays updated on the latest happenings. With a background as a state-level basketball player, he brings a unique perspective to his writing about the sport.
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Edited by:

Sharan Nair