Response from Kobe to MJ

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/20469/comparing-players-and-mjs-pride

 "It’s so hard to say," Jordan told the newspaper. "I think he is always going to be within the conversations of some of the greatest players who’ve played by the time he is finished. Where does he rank among those, if you are talking about positions? If you are talking about guards, I would say he has got to be in the top 10."

Did not say he was 10 or low in the top 10, he said 10.

Yes MJ is a cocky dude, but I don’t see where he disrepected Kobe if fact he said he will be seen as one of the greatest to ever play when he is done. Stop adding shit, Kobe got it. 

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/20469/comparing-players-and-mjs-pride

 "It’s so hard to say," Jordan told the newspaper. "I think he is always going to be within the conversations of some of the greatest players who’ve played by the time he is finished. Where does he rank among those, if you are talking about positions? If you are talking about guards, I would say he has got to be in the top 10."

Did not say he was 10 or low in the top 10, he said 10.

Yes MJ is a cocky dude, but I don’t see where he disrepected Kobe if fact he said he will be seen as one of the greatest to ever play when he is done. Stop adding shit, Kobe got it. 

 Also, he said "guards." That is counting PGs and SG and maybe even some SFs that were primarily guards.. MJ is going to give the guys he played with much more credit than todays players.. 

Id say he could make a case for guys like:

Jerry West, Magic Johnson, George Gervin, Dr. J, John Stocton, Earl Monroe, Clyde Drexler, and maybe even Scottie Pippen or Larry Bird and of course himself.. If he puts those guys out in front of him then that would put Kobe at 10…  I know that those guys arent better but the fact that they played when he did and he got to see them in their prime could make him partial.. He has always downplayed the way the game is played today as opposed to how it was played when he was around… BUT, thats Jordan for ya.

 Also, he said "guards." That is counting PGs and SG and maybe even some SFs that were primarily guards.. MJ is going to give the guys he played with much more credit than todays players.. 

Id say he could make a case for guys like:

Jerry West, Magic Johnson, George Gervin, Dr. J, John Stocton, Earl Monroe, Clyde Drexler, and maybe even Scottie Pippen or Larry Bird and of course himself.. If he puts those guys out in front of him then that would put Kobe at 10…  I know that those guys arent better but the fact that they played when he did and he got to see them in their prime could make him partial.. He has always downplayed the way the game is played today as opposed to how it was played when he was around… BUT, thats Jordan for ya.

As I said before, he was giving a compliment to Kobe, which was difficult to do after saying "Yeah, if I were playing in the league right now I would score 100." It was not like he was listing other players, and it is not like he would be a person to do that anyway. Michael Jordan knows basketball history and has respect for the game, but I do not think he is interested in player rankings beyond his own, which he and a vast majority of other basketball followers feels is #1. So, beyond that, I do not think he says, "Kobe is right behind me", or would say that, so he just tried to give him a compliment that turned into people taking it as a sign of disrespect, which it is not.

As I said before, he was giving a compliment to Kobe, which was difficult to do after saying "Yeah, if I were playing in the league right now I would score 100." It was not like he was listing other players, and it is not like he would be a person to do that anyway. Michael Jordan knows basketball history and has respect for the game, but I do not think he is interested in player rankings beyond his own, which he and a vast majority of other basketball followers feels is #1. So, beyond that, I do not think he says, "Kobe is right behind me", or would say that, so he just tried to give him a compliment that turned into people taking it as a sign of disrespect, which it is not.