Ever since Michael Jordan retired — all three times, really — the NBA has searched for the heir to his throne. Many players have popped up as pretenders to the throne, from Harold Miner to Jerry Stackhouse to Vince Carter. In recent years, people have stopped trying to find a clone and just searched for a similarly dominant great player. If you ever wondered why LeBron James is seen as such a failure, a lot of it has to do with his inability to meet the example set by Jordan.

There are many great players in the NBA these days, most of whom have never been directly compared to Jordan. Nevertheless, His Airness says only one player comes close enough to his greatness to merit the comparison. Not surprisingly, that player is Kobe Bryant. Here's what Roland Lazenby, a great writer currently working on a Jordan book, tweeted on Sunday (via PBT):

Kobe's ultimate competition is MJ. That's why MJ watches him. MJ made people think what he was doing wasn't human. Ditto the Kobester.

I never said Kobe was better than MJ. MJ just told me Kobe's the only one to have done the work, to deserve comparison.

Congratulations, Kobe: Your life's work has meant something. All that time spent aping Jordan's movements and skills has paid off. He acknowledged you. You made it.

Of course, if the notoriously petty Jordan was going to mention anyone, it makes that he'd single out Kobe, and not just because he'd consider the mimicry flattering. Bryant really does work harder than everyone else, and he's been good for long enough (with no signs of slowing down) that he may eventually top Jordan's longevity. They're similarly insane competitors.

The "Next Jordan" idea was always a silly one, but Bryant is certainly the player most like Jordan in all aspects of his game — even if he eventually becomes something less than the greatest player of the post-MJ era, which I'm sure many of you will argue in the comments. That's an accomplishment in itself. Even coming close to the top means something.

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no.

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If Jordan thinks he can be mentioned in the same breath as him he must be getting close.

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While he is the closest possible competitor to Jordan and his legacy, Kobe will always fall short in the minds of most basketball fans.

Then again, I live in Chicago.

I don't think it is just a Chicago thing, I think most NBA fans around the country would agree with your thought. He is the closest there has been, but he still falls short.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

i think it's pretty clear to pretty much anyone with half a brain that he didn't write it

Athletically, Kobe in his prime could do things that Jordan never could. He's clearly the best player in the post-Jordan era. Had Kobe been old enough to play in the 80s and early 90s, I think he and Jordan would have been our generation's Bird and Magic.

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Kid Cairo's Boers & Bernstein YouTube Channel

Kid Cairo: 2013 March Madness Tournament Winner!

"Cowabunga? Cowa fucking piece of dog shit! This game is diarrhea coming out of my dick!"

But without MJ to pattern his entire career around Kobe would have ended up with a huge afro and knee high socks and no jump shot....wait this actually sounds awesome. Take back everything I said

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What could Kobe do athletically that Jordan never could?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Kobe was quicker, a better ballhandler, better pure shooter and better passer.

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Kid Cairo's Boers & Bernstein YouTube Channel

Kid Cairo: 2013 March Madness Tournament Winner!

"Cowabunga? Cowa fucking piece of dog shit! This game is diarrhea coming out of my dick!"

Let me guess. You are 30ish.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

At 23 or 24 he was a better shooter but I don't buy the rest.

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I am with HOVA here, maybe (MAYBE) a better pure shooter, but the rest of them are not even close to true.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Correct. 31.

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Kid Cairo's Boers & Bernstein YouTube Channel

Kid Cairo: 2013 March Madness Tournament Winner!

"Cowabunga? Cowa fucking piece of dog shit! This game is diarrhea coming out of my dick!"

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You never miss your wealth, till your well went dry
Seem like only yesterday, you were here smiling
Now you gone away, but I know you in a better place
No traces of you, what can I do?
Alone and confused