Michael Jordan
1984–85 to 2002–03
15 seasons · 1984–85 to 2002–03NBA player comparison
Who was better: Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant?
Their games invite a direct stylistic comparison, but the model focuses on results: peak impact, season-by-season league finish, sustained excellence, and total career value.
Kobe Bryant
1996–97 to 2015–16
20 seasons · 1996–97 to 2015–1610 best seasonsAverages from ten best seasons10 best seasons
58.1%True shooting55.9%
9.3%Rebound rate8.4%
25.3%Assist rate24.9%
3.4%Steal rate2.2%
1.6%Block rate1.0%
9.2%Turnover rate11.2%
What hussEyquation concludes
#2Career Impact RankPeak-weighted regular-season rank#33
+13.6Peak era-centered impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average+8.0
1.0Best 5 seasons · avg. league rank4.2
1.2Best 10 seasons · avg. league rank6.9
8Seasons ranked No. 10
The story: Michael Jordan ranks higher because his best regular seasons were stronger. Points, rebounds, and assists tell only part of the story. hussEyquation estimates how much a player helped his team while he was on the court. Michael Jordan's best season was estimated at +13.6 points per 100 possessions above league average. Kobe Bryant's best season was +8.0. Across their best three, five, and ten seasons, Michael Jordan's average league places were 1.0, 1.0, and 1.2. Kobe Bryant's were 3.7, 4.2, and 6.9. A place closer to No. 1 is better.
Career Impact Rank compares entire regular-season careers across NBA history. It looks at where each player ranked in his best three, five, and ten seasons, giving the most weight to his very best years. Playoff results, awards, and championships do not affect it.
Why this verdict
Michael Jordan ranks higher because his best regular seasons were stronger. Points, rebounds, and assists tell only part of the story. hussEyquation estimates how much a player helped his team while he was on the court. Michael Jordan's best season was estimated at +13.6 points per 100 possessions above league average. Kobe Bryant's best season was +8.0. Across their best three, five, and ten seasons, Michael Jordan's average league places were 1.0, 1.0, and 1.2. Kobe Bryant's were 3.7, 4.2, and 6.9. A place closer to No. 1 is better.
Full comparison
All the numbers
Category leaders are highlighted. Only hussEyquation measures determine the verdict; awards remain context.
Model inputs
What the model sees
Average input rates across each player's ten best impact seasons.
58.1%True shooting55.9%
9.3%Rebound rate8.4%
25.3%Assist rate24.9%
3.4%Steal rate2.2%
1.6%Block rate1.0%
9.2%Turnover rate11.2%
Values compare Michael Jordan with Kobe Bryant.These are each player's averages across up to ten best seasons. Career Impact Rank gives the Best 3, Best 5, and Best 10 average league finishes 50%, 30%, and 20% window weights, giving the most weight to the highest peak. The model accounts for position, role, pace, playing time, and team results.
Model results
What hussEyquation concludes
Era-centered impact, sustained excellence and career value.
#2Career Impact RankPeak-weighted regular-season rank#33
#4Points-above-replacement rankAll-time rank in estimated regular-season points above replacement#21
+13.6Peak era-centered impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average+8.0
+12.7Best 3 average impact+7.1
+12.4Best 5 average impact+6.6
+11.1Best 10 average impact+5.8
+9,327 ptsEstimated points above replacementRegular season · fixed -2.0 replacement baseline · higher is better+6,096 pts
1.0Best 3 average finish3.7
1.0Best 5 average finish4.2
1.2Best 10 average finish6.9
8Seasons ranked No. 10
12Top-five impact seasons5
12Top-ten impact seasons7
Values compare Michael Jordan with Kobe Bryant.Box score
Traditional stats
Scoring, efficiency and all-around production.
1,072Games1,346
41,011Minutes48,637
30.1PPG25.0
6.2RPG5.2
5.3APG4.7
56.9%TS%55.0%
49.7%FG%44.7%
32.7%3P%32.9%
83.5%FT%83.7%
Values compare Michael Jordan with Kobe Bryant.Résumé
Awards and honors
Context only; these are not model inputs.
14All-Star18
5MVP1
11All-NBA15
9All-Defense12
1DPOY0
1Rookie of the Year0
Values compare Michael Jordan with Kobe Bryant.Career shape
Impact by season
Career mode aligns season one with season one.
Michael JordanKobe Bryant