KOBE BRYANT IS THIS GENERATION MICHAEL JORDAN

[grishnak boss]

We all know that winning championships drives Kobe Bryant. It's the same thing that drives all the great ones and Kobe is no different. We also know that he has an opportunity to win his sixth NBA title this year (tying him with MJ) and potentially his third straight NBA Finals MVP.

Winning his fourth All-Star Game MVP last night not only surpassed the three All-Star Game MVP's won by Jordan, it served as a reminder that Kobe is beginning to catch MJ in a lot of significant categories.

We know the ring count is 6-5, but it doesn't stop there. MJ appeared in 14 All-Star games, and Kobe just played in his 13th. MJ was First Team All-NBA 10 times, and Kobe will make his ninth appearance this year. MJ was First Team All Defense nine times, and Kobe will likely make it nine this year as well. MJ won two gold medals, and Kobe will have the opportunity to win his second in 2012.

And the stat that I consider to be the most important behind the rings is that MJ scored 32,292 points in his career, and Kobe has 27,222. Kobe will pass MJ in total points in approximately three seasons by averaging just 20 points per game.

So let's take a look ahead three years from now. By that time, we could be looking at a guy who has six or seven rings and is the third-leading scorer in NBA history, not to mention the highest scoring guard of all time. He could potentially have two gold medals and surpassed the great Michael Jordan in many significant statistical categories. At that point in his career and with a wife and two kids, what else will he have left to accomplish?

[johnk5150]

Kobe can't hit a curveball either?