Jordan is better in most statistical categories than Kobe and in the few that Kobe lead in it is usually by no more than a few tenths of a point. Prime Jordan vs prime Kobe is not even a contest. I was a fan of both players and watched the entirety of their careers to bring up a 40 year old Jordan to have an argument actually makes yours argument weaker. Kobe was the second best player of his era right behind Lebron.
If you want to compare old Jordan and young Kobe then look at all 8 games they played against each other. Jordan was with the Bulls for 4 games and Wizards for 4 games. The Lakers had Shaq and won 5 of those games.
Kobe averaged 22 points and Jordan averaged 24 points. So in your spirit I can say “Why on earth could old man Jordan average more than a young man Kobe in their 8 head to head matchups?” He was a lot older and slower than his prime surely Kobe would have been able to shut him down.
Read Phil Jackson’s book the dude never comes out and says it directly but you can tell which one he thought was better.
