A certain blog that i was reading (by a person whose name i will not mention) left me a bit uneasy.  This person was trying to convince me that Kobe Bryant is playing at a Michael Jordan level.  I, however, wouldn't venture to compare Kobe  to Michael.  

 Mike made everyone around him better.  No doubt Kobe is a great talent, however he is not a great team player.  In the limited time that i've gotten to see the Lakers in action this season i have seen Kobe time and time again take lower percentage shots instead of dishing to Odom, or Mihm, or Parker or whoever it might be.  He wants the ball in his hand when the game is on the line because he is selfish and wants all the glory even if it means not passing to someone who might have a much better look. 

Yes a play might be drawn up for Kobe, but he should always be on the lookout for any man with an easy look.  If you ask any coach in this league whether he would want his superstar taking a difficult shot with the game on the line or one of his role players getting an easy look at the basket he would choose the latter.  Taking high percentage shots is what every coach stresses to his players at any level of the game.  Jordan would have done that.  He would have done what was best for the team like putting the game winning shot in Bill Paxson's hands in the finals instead of trying to do everything himself like Kobe.  It was that sacrifice that seperates Jordan from Kobe in that he did what was best for the team.  Kobe does whats best for himself. 

If Phil Jackson had Michael then and was able to win and now he has Kobe then why aren't they able to dominate?  If Kobe is on the same level as Mike then what has changed?  It isn't that the coach and his philosophy have changed or that the role players on this Lakers squad are far inferior to those of the Bulls.  As a matter of fact I would bet most people can't even name the starting 5 on that 72-10 team.  There were certainly no hall of fame caliber players on that team save Mike and Scottie.

The difference here is simple.  Mike had that ability to make everyone around him better.  Kobe does not have that.  In his prime Mike could have gone anywhere and that team would have instantly become a contender.  Obviously the same can not be said for Kobe. 

Im not trying to sit here and say that Kobe is not deserving of the MVP award this year or take away from any of his spectacular individual performances this year.  However thats exactly what they were: individual.  So in the future i hope this person, of whose name I wont mention, wont make claims that Kobe is on the level of Mike.  He is far from it.