The greatest of all time Michael Jordan spoke on who he would choose between Kobe and Lebron and reignited the controversial discussion. Jordan admitted that Lebron was dominating the league right now but said he would choose Kobe because he has five rings. “Five beats one every time I look at it,” Jordan said. ‘And not that he won’t get five,’ Jordan said of James. ‘He may get more than that, but five is bigger than one.’ Rings have often been one of the major arguments Kobe supporters use and Lebron’s answer to this is something I’ve always personally believed. Read more after the jump.
Lebron was of course asked about Jordan’s remarks on Friday during the media session for All-Star weekend in Houston. Here’s his response.
Transcribed:
“That’s his own opinion,” James said of Jordan’s comments. “At the end of the day, rings don’t always define someone’s career. If that was the case, then I would sit up here and say I would take (Celtics legend Bill) Russell over Jordan. I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t take Russell over Jordan. Russell has 11 rings, Jordan has six. Take, I don’t know, Robert Horry over Kobe. I wouldn’t do that. It’s your own personal opinion. Rings do not define a person’s career….
“You look at a guy (Jordan era Bulls backup) Jud Buechler, he has multiple rings, Charles Barkley does not have one ring. He’s not better than Charles Barkley. Patrick Ewing is one of the greatest of all time, Reggie Miller is one of the greatest of all time. Sometimes it’s about the situation you’re in, the team you’re in and it’s about timing as well.”
Lebron is right. In my opinion although rings are the ultimate goal of the game, they aren’t a solo effort. Just because someone doesn’t have as many or any rings doesn’t mean they weren’t an exceptional player. However I can’t deny the affect it has on someone’s legacy such as Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing and others who were great players but ringless.
In this case however the argument needs to be put to rest until both Lebron and Kobe are retired then we can compare the two careers.
