Jerry West:
vs.
Kobe Bryant:
All-Rookie 1st Team:
Jerry West: Yes
Kobe Bryant: No
All-Star Selections:
Jerry West: 14
Kobe Bryant: 15
All-NBA 1st Teams:
Jerry West: 10
Kobe Bryant: 10
All-Defensive 1st Teams:
Jerry West: 4
Kobe Bryant: 9
MVP Awards:
Jerry West: 0
Kobe Bryant: 1
Career Games:
Jerry West: 932
Kobe Bryant: 1,225
Regular Season (Career):
Jerry West: 27.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 6.7 apg, 47.4% FG, 81.4% FT
Kobe Bryant: 25.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.7 apg, 45.4% FG, 83.8% FT
Scoring Titles:
Jerry West: 1
Kobe Bryant: 2
Steals and Blocks were not recorded until Jerry West's final season in 1973-74. If so, it would be a much different story in that aspect. If West played with the 3-point line, he would have had a field day.
The NBA didn't finally add All-Defensive Team Selections until the 1968-69 season. If they acknowledged them earlier, Jerry West would have won many more because of how disciplined he was as a defender.
Seasons with 30 ppg or higher:
Jerry West: 4
Kobe Bryant: 2
Seasons with 32 ppg or higher:
Jerry West: 0
Kobe Bryant: 1
Seasons over 50% shooting:
Jerry West: 1
Kobe Bryant 0
Seasons over 48% shooting:
Jerry West: 5
Kobe Bryant: 0
Seasons under 48% shooting:
Jerry West: 9
Kobe Bryant: 16
Seasons over 47% shooting:
Jerry West: 9
Kobe Bryant: 0
Seasons under 47% shooting:
Jerry West: 5
Kobe Bryant: 16
Career Player Efficiency Rating (Regular Season):
Jerry West: 22.9
Kobe Bryant: 23.5
Career Win Shares (Regular Season):
Jerry West: 162.6
Kobe Bryant: 171.7
Career Offensive Win Shares (Regular Season):
Jerry West: 124.6
Kobe Bryant: 122.9
Career Defensive Win Shares (Regular Season):
Jerry West: 37.9
Kobe Bryant: 48.8
Career Win Shares Per 48 Minutes (Regular Season):
Jerry West: .213
Kobe Bryant: .184
*Bonus (Olympic Gold Medals):
Jerry West: 1
Kobe Bryant: 2
All-Star Game MVP's:
Jerry West: 1
Kobe Bryant: 4
As you can see, Jerry West was clearly a more productive player than Kobe across the board, except for free throw percentage. Jerry averaged more points, rebounds, assists and shot a higher field goal percentage than Kobe. When Kobe broke the Lakers franchise scoring record held by Jerry West (25,192), he did it while playing many more games than West along with more minutes. In other words, he missed many more shots along the way, while Jerry set the record in less than 1,000 games (932). This was clearly a cover up by the media. As I have said countless times, Jerry West lacked the MVP Awards because he played in the same era as the Greatest Giants of all-time (Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell), who captured 9 out the 10 MVP's during that decade. Kareem would later come and win 3 during the end of Jerry's career.
*I firmly believe that he was robbed of at least 1-2 MVP's between 1969 and 1970.
If you thought that I would stop there, I am just warming up. Now, time for the playoffs.
Playoffs (Career):
Jerry West: 29.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 6.3 apg, 46.9% FG, 80.5% FT
Kobe Bryant: 25.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.7 apg, 44.8% FG, 81.6% FT
Career Player Efficiency Rating (Playoffs):
Jerry West: 23.1
Kobe Bryant: 22.4
Career Win Shares (Playoffs):
Jerry West: 26.7
Kobe Bryant: 28.3
Career Offensive Win Shares (Playoffs):
Jerry West: 21.3
Kobe Bryant: 21.0
Career Defensive Win Shares (Playoffs):
Jerry West: 5.4
Kobe Bryant: 7.3
Career Win Shares Per 48 Minutes (Playoffs):
Jerry West: .203
Kobe Bryant: .157
NBA Playoff runs over 50% shooting:
Jerry West: 3
Kobe Bryant: 0
Playoff runs over 48% shooting:
Jerry West: 5
Kobe Bryant: 1
Playoff runs under 50% shooting:
Jerry West: 9
Kobe Bryant: 15 (entire career)
Playoff runs under 48% shooting:
Jerry West: 7
Kobe Bryant: 14
Playoff runs under 46% shooting:
Jerry West: 4
Kobe Bryant: 11
Playoff runs under 44% shooting:
Jerry West: 2
Kobe Bryant: 7
Playoff runs over 30 ppg:
Jerry West: 7
Kobe Bryant: 4
Playoff runs over 32 ppg:
Jerry West: 2
Kobe Bryant: 2
Playoff runs over 34 ppg:
Jerry West: 2
Kobe Bryant: 0
In 1964-65, Jerry West averaged 40.6 ppg in the playoffs. He also had a series vs. The Bullets where he set the record for highest scoring average in a playoff series. (46.0)
Now, let's get ready for the Biggest Stage (The NBA Finals):
Finals Appearances:
Jerry West: 9
Kobe Bryant: 7
Finals MVP Awards:
Jerry West: 1 out of 9 tries
Kobe Bryant: 2 out of 7 tries
This is the major factor, and in the case with most fans the only factor that they take into account when they compare Kobe Bryant with Jerry West. Instead of saying Kobe was a member of 5 championship teams in 7 finals appearances (3 sidekick, 2 leader), they just simply give him blanket credit for all 5 (He has 5 rings). Meanwhile, people downgrade Jerry West, because of his lack of TEAM success (1 championship in 9 tries). Little do people really understand the fact that for most of his career, the Lakers were a top heavy team with a two-man combo (West and Baylor). Unfortunately for West, here is a list of circumstances that HURT his team:
1. The Boston Celtics Dynasty (led by Bill Russell, coached by Red Auerbach)
2. The Lakers did not have an answer for Russell at Center for most of that time
3. Elgin Baylor's volume shooting.
4. They also lost twice to the Knicks
For the most part, Jerry West and his Lakers teams went up against more stacked teams. Meanwhile Kobe Bryant was on the opposite side of that situation, because the teams that he played on were more stacked than the opposing teams. It blows my mind to listen to people say that Jerry West constantly had powerhouse teams. If you REALLY want to look at other stacked Lakers teams outside of Shaq & Kobe, check out Magic & Kareem's Lakers. Wilt Chamberlain came later in Jerry's career. ('68-'73) Kobe played with Shaq for half of his career. ('96-'04) Throughout that time, and even later with Gasol, the Lakers were stronger than their opponents.
Now, let's look at their production in the Finals:
NBA Finals (Career):
Jerry West: 30.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 5.6 apg, 45.9% FG
Kobe Bryant: 25.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5.0 apg, 41.2% FG
Jerry West:
1. 1962 NBA Finals: 31.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, 45.6% FG
2. 1963 NBA Finals: 29.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.5 apg, 49% FG
3. 1965 NBA Finals: 33.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.4 apg, 42.4% FG
4. 1966 NBA Finals: 33.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 5.1 apg, 51.5% FG
5. 1968 NBA Finals: 31.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.7 apg, 48.6% FG
6. 1969 NBA Finals: 37.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 7.4 apg, 49% FG
7. 1970 NBA Finals: 31.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 7.7 apg, 45% FG
8. 1972 NBA Finals: 19.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 8.8 apg, 32.5% FG
9. 1973 NBA Finals: 21.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.6 apg, 44.2% FG
Kobe Bryant:
1. 2000 NBA Finals: 15.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 36.7% FG
2. 2001 NBA Finals: 24.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 5.8 apg, 41.5% FG
3. 2002 NBA Finals: 26.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.3 apg, 51.4% FG
4. 2004 NBA Finals: 22.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.4 apg, 38.1% FG
5. 2008 NBA Finals: 25.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 5.0 apg, 40.5% FG
6. 2009 NBA Finals: 32.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 7.4 apg, 43% FG
7. 2010 NBA Finals: 28.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.9 apg, 40.5% FG
*The 2002 Finals series was an anomaly for a player like Kobe, because the series was a 4-0 sweep. If the series went longer, his FG% would have dropped.
More often than not, Jerry West raised his level of play with less around him while Kobe has often lowered his level of play with MORE help around him. Jerry West played better in losing efforts than Kobe did in winning efforts. (Example: 1969 NBA Finals vs. Boston) You would never find anything about Jerry West being outplayed by the likes of an Austin Croshere like Kobe did in the 2000 NBA Finals for example. Kobe also deliberately shot his team out of the 2004 Finals vs Detroit, because he was tired of playing the sidekick role to Shaquille O'Neal.
Kobe's 40.5% FG in the 2010 NBA Finals has been considered the WORST Field Goal Percentage for a Finals MVP in NBA History! However, Pau Gasol and the refs bailed him out during that series, especially where he shot an abysmal 6-24 in Game 7. That night, he dodged the biggest silver bullet of his career. Meanwhile, Jerry West recorded a Triple-Double in Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals, while his team fell apart against Boston. Jerry West's production in that series earned him the NBA Finals MVP Award. He became the first and only player to win on a losing team.
Personally, I believe that if you put Jerry West in Kobe's place for those first 3 championships, he could have helped out Shaq much more. At best, I say they win at least 5-6 championships, with Shaq staying as a Laker to the end. Players like West and Magic will always be respected for how they accepted their role to improve the team. They did not step outside of the system for their own personal agenda. Kobe has built his legacy out of that.
Kobe has been historically infamous for destroying team chemistry. NEVER EVER forget the way that Kobe put Shaq's personal business out in the open, to deflect criticism of his own. Not only that, but Kobe ultimately forced the hand of Lakers management to run SHAQ OUT OF L.A.! As a result, the media now holds him in higher regard than Shaq, and have blacklisted Shaq's run as a Laker. (Look no further than ESPN)
"Bryant told Jackson that O'Neal's presence on the team would affect his decision to stay with the Lakers, adding, "I'm tired of being a sidekick".
Translation: "Either he goes, or I go".
Jerry West has virtually been the best player on his team, at least until his last 2-3 seasons with the Lakers. Kobe did not become the best player, until the 2004-05 season. During that season, the Lakers missed the playoffs for the first time ever in Kobe's career. Who's fault was it for running off the franchise player, which caused the Lakers to bring in the likes of Smush Parker and Kwame Brown? You guessed it, Kobe. It wasn't until Kobe's trade demand where the Lakers restructured around him to keep him there for two more titles.
Kobe could not avoid the silver bullet for long. The same $90 million dollar roster that Kobe won Finals MVP with twice (2009 & 2010), is the same roster that got swept off the court and smoked by the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. Everyone wanted to blame players like Pau Gasol, when instead Kobe should have taken the fall.
Kobe's legacy as a leader is taking an even bigger hit with the implosion of this current Lakers team with Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Ron Artest. Nash and Howard's numbers are being hindered playing next to Kobe. That is NOT the true sign of a leader, when you handicap the abilities of other marquee players. Kobe has NEVER made anyone around him better.
When Jerry West had the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor and Gail Goodrich, he dialed back his scoring. In fact, Gail Goodrich was the leading scorer (25.9 ppg) when the Lakers won the Finals in 1972. It could have easily been West, but he knew that in order to succeed with that team, he had to sacrifice his stats to make Gail Goodrich better. This is why West was the co-leader with Wilt.
I also notice those same Jerry West skeptics say that "Jerry West was too little", or "He would be on the bench in today's game". They also say that "Jerry West wouldn't survive in the 80s/90s era of perimeter players, because of his size". They want to degrade West, because he was a "small, white guy". Well, Larry Bird turned out great in that era in spite of his athletic disadvantages in the strongest era of all-time. In fact, Larry Bird CONQUERED his era, as a "white guy", out playing the best black players of any era. Last time I checked, he was no more athletic than Jerry West, just 5-6" taller and 35-45 pounds heavier. West is actually between 6'3"-6'4".
In fact, if you send Kobe back in time to the 1960s, where he doesn't have Michael Jordan's influence as an advantage, he would not thrive the way that he does now. He would have fewer players to emulate, with practically next to none, outside of Jerry, Oscar and Elgin. Instead, he would have to play AGAINST those guys on a night-in, night-out basis.
Conclusion:
Jerry West was an innovator, while Kobe Bryant is an imitator. What Jerry West did for his era, and NBA history is remarkable. West did not have the benefits of the Modern Game, with the Anti-Aging Supplements, Weight Training, and Nutrition. Jerry West also did not have the opportunity to have other great players to come before him to pattern himself after. Basically, he had no other choice but to be original. Jerry West was a more productive, and consistent player in all stages. (Regular Season, Playoffs, Finals) The facts are staring you right in the face, with no lie. Kobe only has the advantage in longevity, team accomplishments, and volume achievements such as career total points. His style of play was much more conducive to team basketball, no matter the lack of championships on his side. No matter how many fans, analysts and ex-players prop up Kobe, West will always leave a greater mark on the game. Before Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, Jerry West was the ultimate clutch player.
Here is a greater glimpse of Jerry West:
YEAH, BUDDY!
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