Gilbert Arenas recently sparked controversy on Vlad TV by mentioning the similarities between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Arenas, a self-described Kobe enthusiast, shared his passionate opinions on why Kobe would never be the same as Michael Jordan. He started by refuting the idea that Kobe was a replica of Jordan.
Arenas highlighted that Kobe never resembled the explosive athleticism and speed of the Jordan of the 1980s. He emphasized that Jordan had unmatched athleticism even in high school, distinguished by a 48-inch vertical leap. Arenas contended that their playing styles differed significantly because of their exceptional athletic ability, which was unreplicable.
Gilbert stated, “I’m a Kobe fanatic, but he’s not a carbon copy of Michael Jordan. I don’t like when people say Kobe was a carbon copy of Michael. Let’s go back to the basics. Kobe never looked like the ’80s Jordan. He didn’t move like him. He didn’t have the speed or athleticism of Michael Jordan in the ’80s or ’90s. Michael was athletic even in high school, right? A 38-inch vertical is still a 38-inch vertical, but a 48-inch vertical is a completely different jumping style.”
He added, “Let’s just put that out there. There are two different styles of jumping and moving in the air, so they could never look like each other. So, which Kobe looked like Michael Jordan? It’s the 24 Kobe who looked like the second three-peat Jordan—the fadeaway, the tongue out. That’s the older Michael Jordan, aged 31 to 33. You can’t say that the little frame of Michael Jordan that Kobe used makes him look like Michael Jordan. There are four parts to a person. Kobe Bryant is only one part of four, so he’s not a carbon copy.”
Finally, Arenas stated that while he respected Kobe’s accomplishments, he felt that Kobe would never indeed be able to emulate Michael Jordan. He made the case that Jordan was a unique force in basketball history because of the inherent contrasts in their athleticism and playing styles.
Gilbert Arenas Explains Critical Differences in Kobe Bryant’s Athleticism And Playing Styles
In Arenas ‘ opinion, the only time Kobe resembled Jordan was in his final years and when he wore the number 24 jersey. This Kobe was similar to the older Jordan of the Chicago Bulls second three-peat, with his trademark tongue-out facial expressions and fadeaway jump jumpers. Arenas was eager to clarify that this similarity only applied to one particular element of both games.
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Arenas explained that a player has many different aspects, and Kobe Bryant represented just one of the qualities that made Jordan unique. By this, Arenas implied that although Kobe had imitated some aspects of Jordan’s approach and skill set, he had not fully embraced them.
In conclusion, even if Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan may have certain things in common, what most people adore about him is his extraordinary work ethic, unwavering passion, unbreakable resolve, and capacity to push the boundaries of human possibility. Beyond simply being a basketball player, Kobe represented what was possible for someone with unwavering commitment and a strong desire to excel.
