Comparisons of these two players started the day Kobe Bryant entered the National Basketball Association.  Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are beyond similar, whether it be through stats or the way they carry their persona.  

Michael Jordan may have been the best basketball player anybody has ever witnessed.  His new powerful, athletic, explosive style began revolutionizing the NBA, and some people don't even know he existed.  

Before Michael Jordan, every player wore short shorts. Believe it or not when Michael Jordan first started playing he would wear his college UNC shorts under his NBA shorts; he finally asked the association for a longer pair.  Now, every team wears long shorts.  How does one player completely change the wardrobe of an entire group of organizations, of an entire sport? Michael Jordan was just that influential.  He was the Greatest Of All Time (at least most some would say).  

Any player put into comparison with MJ should feel honored, and of course Kobe does, but there is a reason that comparison exists.  For starters, when Kobe was young, he grew up watching Jordan's era - and other players like Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing - he watched and analyzed their games, meshing all of them into his own.  

So, the first comparison between Kobe and MJ is that Kobe took Jordan's game and fused it into his own, they are extremely similar players basketball wise.  When Kobe came into the league, MJ was still playing and when people saw them guard each other they were in awe of the similarities between the two.  Kobe came in and MJ came out, the torch was passed for a new era. 

You can also compare these two by stats: there again are tons of similarities. MJ has 6 rings, Kobe has 5.  MJ is 3rd all time scoring list, Kobe is 4th all time about to catch and pass MJ this season (< 60 points away).  

There are more similarities like both players' clutchness, their ability to create space and finish above the rim, or just their coldbloodedness that allows them to handle the pressure of the biggest situations. This also shows you how these players compare off the court - their persona.  

They are both calm, cool, and collected people, plus they know how to handle interviews and how to live a normal life outside of basketball. These two people are almost the same player in different eras of basketball and anybody who was able to watch both understands.  

But why compare the two when you can just enjoy what each player has brought to the game individually? Why try to decide which player was better when they are both great? Best part about it, there are more NBA greats to come.