Followers

Saturday 4 September 2010

Can Kobe Age As Gracefully As Jordan?

Now that Kobe Bryant’s turned 32, how much of a decline can we expect in his game over the next few seasons?

The only player to compare Bryant’s 30-something performance with, of course, is Michael Jordan. But it’s not a simple comparison because by the age of 32 MJ had been retired for almost two seasons while he tried, and failed, to make it as a pro baseball player.

So, when Jordan returned to the Chicago Bulls late in the 94-95 season—at 32—he’d played only 778 NBA regular season and playoff games. By comparison, Kobe Bryant has already played a whopping 1,219 games, 57% more than Jordan at the same age. Kobe is clearly the NBA version of a Ferrari with high mileage.

What happened after Jordan’s 32nd birthday? MJ led the league in scoring in the next three seasons before another retirement attempt.

Still, age forced some adjustments in MJ’s game—and we might see the same from Kobe.


Late in Jordan’s career, he’d often pace himself to save something for the fourth quarter. Even then, MJ was great, he just wasn’t the airborne legend of his youth.

As Kobe—a hoops historian—readies for his 15th Lakers season, he’s probably got this MJ stat memorized: After Jordan turned 32, he won three more NBA titles.

What do you think? Post your comments below.

18 comments:

  1. Kobe in my opinion is by far the best basketballer to ever play this game..

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  2. Kobe pass the ball, Kobe pass! oh ok, you can just dunk it instead...

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  3. I hope Kobe doesn't try pro golfing next.

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  4. it just depends i guess.
    http://jblivetour.blogspot.com/

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  5. Cool, following now.

    http://deathmetalzebra.blogspot.com/

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  6. Interesting

    http://coldrocker.blogspot.com/

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  7. Great stuff man, I bet Lebron ages better then both of them. I also give it 5 years before he joins Scientology.

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  8. Mmm.. Basketball.



    www.theblogofdh00m.blogspot.com

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  9. Your blogs are awesome man. Well worthy of a follow!

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  10. yes, IMO he is just as much the complete player.

    http://oksothisishowitis.blogspot.com/

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  11. is Kobe a brand? Hardly.
    Will the Lakers retire the #8 or #24 when Kobe is done? Unlikely.
    Has Kobe played an NBA final coming down with a bad case of the flu and still posting top numbers? I don't remember that happening.

    Kobe is a top notch player, but MJ is/was an alien.

    fffaces.blogspot.com

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  12. as much as i love MJ and want him to be the greatest of all time. kobe is in a great position to surpass him. but that is if kobe learn to play with more finesse then sheer power of youth.

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