Phil Jackson: Jordan better leader than Kobe
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Phil Jackson always has been hesitant to compare Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Until now.
In his new book, co-written with Hugh Delehanty and entitled "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success," Jackson breaks down what separated Jordan from Bryant, the biggest stars and personalities that he coached during his Hall of Fame career.
The Los Angeles Times, which received an advance copy of the 339-page book, provided some details of Jackson's Jordan and Bryant comparison.
In terms of advantages, the biggest that Jordan has over Bryant comes in the leadership department, according to Jackson.
"One of the biggest differences between the two stars from my perspective was Michael's superior skills as a leader," Jackson writes. "Though at times he could be hard on his teammates, Michael was masterful at controlling the emotional climate of the team with the power of his presence. Kobe had a long way to go before he could make that claim. He talked a good game, but he'd yet to experience the cold truth of leadership in his bones, as Michael had in his bones."
Jackson, who coached Jordan to six titles with the Chicago Bulls and Bryant to five with the Los Angeles Lakers, also compared the players' defensive skills and accuracy. Once again, Jackson sided with Jordan.
“
Jackson One of the biggest differences between the two stars from my perspective was Michael's superior skills as a leader. Though at times he could be hard on his teammates, Michael was masterful at controlling the emotional climate of the team with the power of his presence. Kobe had a long way to go before he could make that claim. He talked a good game, but he'd yet to experience the cold truth of leadership in his bones, as Michael had in his bones.
” -- Phil Jackson
"No question, Michael was a tougher, more intimidating defender," Jackson writes. "He could break through virtually any screen and shut down almost any player with his intense, laser-focused style of defense."
Saying Bryant learned some of Jordan's defensive tricks, Jackson added: "In general, Kobe tends to rely more heavily on his flexibility and craftiness, but he takes a lot of gambles on defense and sometimes pays the price."
On offense, Jackson said: "Jordan was also more naturally inclined to let the game come to him and not overplay his hand, whereas Kobe tends to force the action, especially when the game isn't going his way. When his shot is off, Kobe will pound away relentlessly until his luck turns. Michael, on the other hand, would shift his attention to defense or passing or setting screens to help the team win the game."
Jackson also touched on the difference in personalities.
"Michael was more charismatic and gregarious than Kobe," Jackson writes. "He loved hanging out with his teammates and security guards, playing cards, smoking cigars, and joking around.
"Kobe is different. He was reserved as a teenager, in part because he was younger than the other players and hadn't developed strong social skills in college. When Kobe first joined the Lakers, he avoided fraternizing with his teammates. But his inclination to keep to himself shifted as he grew older. Increasingly, Kobe put more energy into getting to know the other players, especially when the team was on the road."
Jackson also revealed that the sexual assault charges levied against Bryant in 2003 temporarily clouded his outlook of the Lakers star. The situation "cracked open an old wound" because Jackson's daughter Brooke had been sexually assaulted by an athlete in college.
"The Kobe incident triggered all my unprocessed anger and tainted my perception of him. ... It distorted my view of Kobe throughout the 2003-04 season," Jackson writes. "No matter what I did to extinguish it, the anger kept smoldering in the background."
The Times also revealed other tidbits from the book, which is set to be released Tuesday.
• Jackson's interest in Zen picked up after he met a practicing Buddhist, who was a construction worker and helped build his house in the 1970s.
• Jackson's words to Jordan after he showed up in the coach's office in 1995 hoping to return to basketball after a failed attempt at a baseball career: "Well, I think we've got a uniform here that might fit you."
• Jackson considers the Lakers' Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals the most satisfying of his career.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9285372/phil-jackson-compares-michael-jordan-kobe-bryant-book
In his new book, co-written with Hugh Delehanty and entitled "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success," Jackson breaks down what separated Jordan from Bryant, the biggest stars and personalities that he coached during his Hall of Fame career.
The Los Angeles Times, which received an advance copy of the 339-page book, provided some details of Jackson's Jordan and Bryant comparison.
In terms of advantages, the biggest that Jordan has over Bryant comes in the leadership department, according to Jackson.
"One of the biggest differences between the two stars from my perspective was Michael's superior skills as a leader," Jackson writes. "Though at times he could be hard on his teammates, Michael was masterful at controlling the emotional climate of the team with the power of his presence. Kobe had a long way to go before he could make that claim. He talked a good game, but he'd yet to experience the cold truth of leadership in his bones, as Michael had in his bones."
Jackson, who coached Jordan to six titles with the Chicago Bulls and Bryant to five with the Los Angeles Lakers, also compared the players' defensive skills and accuracy. Once again, Jackson sided with Jordan.
“
Jackson One of the biggest differences between the two stars from my perspective was Michael's superior skills as a leader. Though at times he could be hard on his teammates, Michael was masterful at controlling the emotional climate of the team with the power of his presence. Kobe had a long way to go before he could make that claim. He talked a good game, but he'd yet to experience the cold truth of leadership in his bones, as Michael had in his bones.
” -- Phil Jackson
"No question, Michael was a tougher, more intimidating defender," Jackson writes. "He could break through virtually any screen and shut down almost any player with his intense, laser-focused style of defense."
Saying Bryant learned some of Jordan's defensive tricks, Jackson added: "In general, Kobe tends to rely more heavily on his flexibility and craftiness, but he takes a lot of gambles on defense and sometimes pays the price."
On offense, Jackson said: "Jordan was also more naturally inclined to let the game come to him and not overplay his hand, whereas Kobe tends to force the action, especially when the game isn't going his way. When his shot is off, Kobe will pound away relentlessly until his luck turns. Michael, on the other hand, would shift his attention to defense or passing or setting screens to help the team win the game."
Jackson also touched on the difference in personalities.
"Michael was more charismatic and gregarious than Kobe," Jackson writes. "He loved hanging out with his teammates and security guards, playing cards, smoking cigars, and joking around.
"Kobe is different. He was reserved as a teenager, in part because he was younger than the other players and hadn't developed strong social skills in college. When Kobe first joined the Lakers, he avoided fraternizing with his teammates. But his inclination to keep to himself shifted as he grew older. Increasingly, Kobe put more energy into getting to know the other players, especially when the team was on the road."
Jackson also revealed that the sexual assault charges levied against Bryant in 2003 temporarily clouded his outlook of the Lakers star. The situation "cracked open an old wound" because Jackson's daughter Brooke had been sexually assaulted by an athlete in college.
"The Kobe incident triggered all my unprocessed anger and tainted my perception of him. ... It distorted my view of Kobe throughout the 2003-04 season," Jackson writes. "No matter what I did to extinguish it, the anger kept smoldering in the background."
The Times also revealed other tidbits from the book, which is set to be released Tuesday.
• Jackson's interest in Zen picked up after he met a practicing Buddhist, who was a construction worker and helped build his house in the 1970s.
• Jackson's words to Jordan after he showed up in the coach's office in 1995 hoping to return to basketball after a failed attempt at a baseball career: "Well, I think we've got a uniform here that might fit you."
• Jackson considers the Lakers' Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals the most satisfying of his career.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9285372/phil-jackson-compares-michael-jordan-kobe-bryant-book
Comments
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Phil Jackson was a greater coach Imo..
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I always get the feeling that Phil Jackson doesn't like Kobe, but tolerates him because he's an all-time great.
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It seems like Phil Jackson trolls MJ and Kobe lol every time he compares them always trying to spark something.
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What, throwing people under the bus ain't leadership?
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phil stay winning
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Jordan was a better leader, and he was a much smarter, more efficient, basketball player.
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every time i hear about Micheal Jordan i think of that story Chamillionaire told about trying to get a autograph from Jordan and Jordan says he dont sign autographs for ? . -
That's too bad about his daughter.
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Who didnt know this???? Only a Lakers fan would ever say kobe is a better leader than MJ and even most them aint that stupid, i think..
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People on ESPN were making it seem like Phil ? on Kobe, but he really didn't. He just gave an assessment of the differences between them, and he really didn't say anything that anybody who has watched to the two in the primes would say. We all know Kobe forces ? more. We all know MJ was a better lockdown defender. And everyone should know MJ was a better and more vocal leader for more of his career than Kobe.
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This will get interesting...
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I bet Michael and phil smoke ? loads together
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I feel like Phil is either writing this to spark a flame in Kobe or to up his book sales, but then again everything he said is correct
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Michael the GOAT
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I'm a Laker fan... grew up in the Jordan era... and I will say that Jordan is better than Kobe.. Jordan was more physically gifted than Kobe and he also knew how to interpret the game in a manner that allowed him to adapt to whatever was happening on the court.
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I bet Michael and phil smoke ? loads together
oh yeah and when my homie went out to the chi to kick it with a dude we knew who played for the bulls he said that eddie robinson (old bulls player) told him that he done smoked weed wit mike personally lol. -
There's different styles of leadership. Some people lead by example, some are in your face about it, some talk it out etc.
Neither style is more right or more efficient than the other. I would actually argue that the in your face style only works with certain teammates who are more submissive. -
Kobe Bryant @kobebryant The comparisons are #apples2oranges Wonder what the perception would be if M played wit @shaq instead #differentroles #differentcareerpaths
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Kobe and his groupies mad as fucc cuz phil dropped those factual bombs that got em scattering like cockroaches when the lights come on
Phil Jax don't coach the lakers which means he don't have to be politically correct no more wit the kobe vs MJ questions -
I think we all know this. Jordan was more mature when he entered the league after playing in college. It's the same reason it took LeBron so long to live up to his potential. College matures players.
This discussion has been closed.