I should have clarified in my post, I'm an Orlando Magic fan, not a Magic Johnson fan (although I did like Magic as a player). That was why I referenced last Sunday's game. It was one of the best games I've ever watched.
I like Kobe as a player, and like I said, he's got to be 2nd or 3rd best player in the league right now. I just don't think his accomplishments or skill were quite as good as Jordans. Tough to compare because of the differences in the game, but I still lean towards MJ.
Cool thread, btw. Good to see there are still some NBA fans left. Over the years, the players have diminished the Leagues repuation, but I still enjoy watching. Dwight Howard, aside from his impressive talent, is a great person and does tons for the community. He's a breath of fresh air for the League for sure.