I’m a die-hard Kobe fan. He is the Second Coming of Jordan, The One. The Oracle’s prophecy regarding his role as savior of the Post-Jordan NBA is starting to be fulfilled.
On the other hand, Carter is great and spectacular but–and this is a BIG but–he is no Kobe.
Here is what I wrote about Kobe midway through last season:
*He has become a very solid shooter from the outside, he is a very though defender, he can take the rock to the basket with the best of them, he rebounds pretty well and leads his team in assists with over 4 a game. He is finally playing more in control, limiting the showing off of his vast repertoire of moves and playing a more team-oriented game. As a matter of fact, I believe Jackson is underutilizing Kobe. He is playing a Pippen role when he can put on a cape and take the MJ role from Shaq.
I mean, even though Shaq has improved his FT’s of late you can’t count on him to hit the game-winning basket. Guess what? Kobe can. He can score from outside, penetrate, hit a fall away jumper over his defender or hit the open man when is double-teamed. He is the next Jordan, Carter is more the next Dominique than he is the heir to MJs throne.
One last thing, at 21 Kobe is better than Jordan was at his age. He has the same explosiveness, superlative confidence and ultimate commitment to winning that characterized Michael even in the early moments of his glorious career, but at this stage Kobe is more mature and experienced and has developed a better outside shot. If the deities that govern the basketball heavens allow me to extrapolate, then Kobe should be even better than…should I even say it? The great Michael Jordan.*
I stand by what I said, except that I now hold Carter in a higher esteem. He is way better than the Human Highlight Reel.
In any case, Kobe is number 1. Well, actually number 8, but you know what I mean. So, who’s the best, Kobe or Vince?
Pshaw. Make no mistake about it; Vince is the next One. Kobe Bryant is a magnificent player, but he simply doesn’t have what it takes to complete with Air Canada. Soon, the NBA will know the wrath of Vinsanity.
Kobe Bryant has had the opportunity to play with vastly better teammates, and Carter is STILL more productive. Granting that Vince is his team’s go-to guy and Bryant is not, Vince is a far better outside shooter - his 3-point shooting percentage was much higher last year - and anyone watching him can see Carter is the most purely talented athlete in the game.
You cannot fully appreciate the depth of Vince’s skill on TV. He must be seen in person. The man commands the court when he’s on it. He has a presence of sheer force and control rarely seen in any athlete. If I had to bet on any current player really rising up and completely dominating the league, there’s no doubt in my mind Vince Carter would be the man to do it.
I would be happy with Kobe over anyone, except Vince. Vince is unstoppable. He is Vinspirational.
I think two things give Kobe an edge over Vince Carter:
First, he’s a better defender. He made the NBA all-defense team, and he’s more likely to shut down the other team’s best player. I know some of that has to do with the fact that he has Shaq behind him to make up for any mistakes he makes on defense, but he is still a better one-on-one defender.
Second, Kobe plays better than Vince in the playoffs. Last year, Carter did almost nothing in the first round, and made McGrady look like the next Jordan by comparison.
I also think that Kobe has a better jumpshot than Carter, who relies much more on his athleticism.
IMO, I actually think Eddie Jones is the closest thing to the “next Jordan” in the NBA right now.
He may develop into as great a player but at this point his game is not as good as Jordan’s. Jordan was the consummate money player. I defy you to name any other player you would want shooting the ball with the clock winding down to win a game when it matters most. He could defend and he was an unquestioned leader. Talked the talk and walked the walk.
I realize the comparisons are fun to make but Kobe has a lot to prove before he is put on a pedestal next to MJ.
Vince…he has a lot of skill but needs to mature as a player.
Ray Allen got the Olympic spot because he is a better overall player than Vince and Vince showed USA Basketball what a chump he is when the Bucks played Toronto after the decision came down. He also showed his ugly side against Japan when we were up 30 by pushing a Japanese player from behind while running up court. CHUMP, CHUMP, CHUMP!!!
Kobe is definitely the better defender (Carter is very good, but Kobe is very very good) but I don’t buy the “better in the playoffs” bit. Vince has played three playoff games; it’s a meaningless sample.
What says a lot about the greatness that is Vince Carter is that the Raps GOT to the playoffs last year. The year before Vinsanity began, the Raptors were so mind-bogglingly bad the future of the franchise was in serious question. They were 16-66 and looked worse; you’ve never seen such an awful team. The arrival of Carter immediately turned the team’s fortunes around, despite the fact that there were no obvious stars on the team aside from him; Tracy McGrady didn’t really play like a star until the second half of Carter’s second season (last season.) When you can turn a team around and excel immediately upon entering the league and you do it with a supporting cast of Doug Christie and Del Curry… well, folks, that’s an impact player.
Carter gets a lot of attention for his spectacular, otherworldy dunks, but he’s a far more rounded player than he’s given credit for. He has oustanding shooting skills - he was over 40% from beyond the arc last year - and is, to my eye, the best defender on the team, not that the Raptors have a lot of strong D-men. There is nothing he does not do well on the floor.
Carter’s behaviour at the Olympics was a bit boorish, but he isn’t exactly Charles Barkley or Latrell Sprewell, and anyway how he acts at an exhibition tournament famous for its 2002 mascot being named “Cashy The Bag” doesn’t have a lot of impact on his NBA play. In Toronto, he’s reknowned for his manners and polite behaviour and being a team player and a generally oustanding sportsman.
