https://vine.co/v/OOKqvg5FbgD

Kobe Bryant has been compared to Michael Jordan his entire career. This is always the case when any truly great player comes into the league — just ask LeBron James. However, in light of the record that Kobe Bryant set on Tuesday, a new type of MJ comparison began to trend. The record that Bryant is now the outright holder of is for most missed field goals of all-time, passing Celtics’ legend John Havlicek tally of 13,147. This should not really be a surprise, given that Bryant has been a prolific shooting guard for 19 years, but it has nevertheless reminded people of another past-his-prime legend. Bryant’s 37 attempted shots versus the Suns earlier this year drew memories of Michael Jordan’s 38 attempted shots versus the Hornets in 2001 (although that was a game where Jordan scored 51 points in a hefty win, unlike the Lakers’ defeat at the hands of the Suns). Jordan’s tenure with the Wizards is still regarded by many as somewhere between laughable folly and a sad show of the ravages of age on the Greatest of All Time.

The comparison in this case is actually fairly accurate. Even Bryant cannot deny it (see video below). Their stat lines are strikingly similar:

-Bryant: 2014–15: 34.9 MPG, 26.7 PPG, 39.3 FG%, 42.6 Effective FG%, 38.2 Usage Rate;

-Jordan: 2001–02: 34.9 MPG, 22.9 PPG, 41.6 FG%, 42 Effective FG%, 36 Usage Rate) (from SI.com).

Those numbers are not particularly rosy — extremely high usage rates and declining field goal percentages, combined with a roster of young, inexperienced players, are not a proven formula for any real success. The situation may be grim for the Win/Loss column, but is really that bad for these legends?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZQL7CBECQI

Going out on top with a championship or success (“burning out”, in this situation) is certainly ideal. But not every athlete can end their career with a triumph a la the NFL’s John Elway. There are notable examples of the greats bouncing around in their old age, with Jordan, Shaq, and Brett Favre being some of the more prominent. However, lower level players do this sort of thing all the time. They keep working away at the game they love despite their decreased physical capacities, championship hopes or not, and not a negative word is said.

Jordan and Bryant played and continue to play for the same reason. Criticism will continue to abound (perhaps due to the cognitive dissonance of observing a legend and seeing a shadow of the past), however Bryant will continue to put in work. He sees the comparison and gives it no second look, despite his body and his career fading. The missed shots record is truly a measure of Bryant’s tenacity and commitment. Where the White Mamba sees training as a young man’s game, the Black Mamba sees it as a challenge.

This author’s suggestion is to put aside the criticisms of Bryant and enjoy his performances and competitive spirit while they can still be witnessed in the present. Washington’s fans did this, buying out every home game in both 2001 and 2002 while the talking heads lambasted Jordan’s efforts. They may not be what they once were, but seeing a true great play at a very competitive level for even a few more years is welcome when that magical “burn out” championship-retirement combo cannot be attained. Sometimes fading away is not so bad after all.