15. Kobe 16x All-Star to Jordan’s 14x All-Star
14. Kobe’s 4 ASG MVPs to Jordan’s 3 ASG MVPs
Feb 17, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Western Conference guard Kobe Bryant (24) of the Los Angeles Lakers drives against Eastern Conference guard
Kyrie Irving(2) of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half of the 2013 NBA All-Star Game at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
While the selection of All-Star games is an imperfect process and, as a comparison tool, it’s equally imperfect, but it is a good barometer of how good a player was. And it’s no surprise that, of the 18 years he’s been eligible, Bryant has been named to 16 All-Star teams.
Most impressively, from 1999 through 2014, Bryant was elected to every All-Star game and started each game for the Western Conference, a feat no one has matched. While Jordan was nominated in every full season he played, he only managed 14 seasons, a testament to Bryant’s longevity (which we’ll get to down the road).
However, Bryant didn’t simple show up to All-Star games and sit back. He took the opportunity as a challenge; a chance to prove himself among the game’s elite. He holds many All-Star game records, including most points in All-Star game history, but his four All-Star game MVPs pretty much sums up his performance in the annual event. While he shared one trophy with Shaq, Bryant has always played the All-Star game like an NBA Finals match-up, never taking a night off.
Next: Kobe's Longevity